Open Our Eyes, Oh Lord

Genesis 8:6-13,20-22
Mark 8:22-26

Blindness is not only a physical infirmity it has also other human condition. Jesus addresses this social condition many times in his preaching. Oftentimes, he was harsh on the religious leaders whom he called “blind guides’ because they were unwilling to recognize what was before their eyes: people suffering on account of their selfish human laws, justice ignored because they would have to admit to their compliance with injustice and to their own personal corruption and sin.

There are several details in the gospels that talk about blindness but one thing that strikes me in today’s gospel is the fact that “after the people had brought the blind man to Jesus, he takes him away by the hand and leads him away from the village to heal him and immediately sent him away. Who are these people and what does the action Jesus possibly mean?

Jesus will often refer to a passage in Isaiah that says, “they may look and see and not perceive.” Is. 6:9. He is also speaking to us. It is only when we become acutely aware of our blindness do we go looking for the grace of sight and insight. He is always offering his healing hands to us

Fr Josep Osho