Gen 8:6-13,20-22. Mk 8:22-26.
BE PATIENT FOR A CLEAR AND COMPLETE VISION OF LIFE!
Today’s readings bring before us two persons who see everything clearly. In the first reading, Noah sees the dry land; in the gospel reading, the blind man sees everything clearly. Though the verb ‘to see’ is used metaphorically in the Bible, referring to the internal eyes we mean, eyes of faith, in today’s reading it is used directly to refer to people's perfect sight to see God and earth.
The first reading narrates the immediate events that follow the Great Flood. Three events happen here: (i) after many years, Noah removed the covering of the ark, and it is written that the surface of the ground was drying up. What a miracle! Instead of seeing the sky, Noah sees the surface of the ground dried up. Noah insists on the necessity to look down; In fact, he sees with the eyes of God; (ii) Noah offers sacrifices to God. In pre-historic times every individual – Cain, Abel, Noah - was offering sacrifices to God; in the patriarchal era it was the fathers of the family or the clan who offered sacrifices (priesthood was developed later in this context) (iii) God is pleased with Noah’s offering and he promises that he would never harm humanity again. (remember God of Noah’s time is not a God of theology).
In the gospel reading Jesus heals a blind man. Only in Mark do we listen to the healing of a blind man that happened in two stages. Both times, Jesus was on his ‘way’ to Jerusalem. These two instances serve as parables to explain the nature of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus is not able to give complete healing to the blind (they used to call ‘embarrassment texts’ of Mark.). Why Jesus did not cure him the first time? Blind man needs to do it for the second time. A blind man is brought to Jesus. Jesus takes him away from the village. So, when Jesus was healing him it was just he and Jesus. When he was able to see partially it was Jesus whom he saw. He says, ‘I am able to see men, but they look like trees, but they walk.’ These words reflect the nature of the disciples. Even though they were close to Jesus, they were not able to recognize him. Later when Jesus touched the man again he became totally alright.
What are the lessons that we draw from today’s readings?
(i) Be patient during trials: The floods in our life will also become dry one day. One cannot be sure that the flood will never appear in his life. Sometimes, God may send it purposedly into your life. So, it is possible in our life, the moments of the flood: the great destruction. As the neighboring people of Noah made fun of Noah building an ark in the desert, so some people around you, might frustrate you. Be patient, as Noah was patient for a number of years inside the ark. It takes a lot of courage to see the dry land.
(ii) Wait for Jesus to be touched for complete healing: It is not easy to get a good and perfect vision all the time. God allows us gradual healing of truth. Since evil is intrinsic in our hearts, we need to be carefully watchful. The Book of Proverbs beautifully says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Prov 4:23). We will be able to see Jesus, the people, and the creation (trees) in truth, only if we allow Jesus to touch us.
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