Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection February 19, 2025

By CL

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Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection February 19, 2025

R/. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

V/. Alleluia

R/. Alleluia

V/. May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to his call.

R/. Alleluia.

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”

Life becomes meaningful when there is Progress, change, and renewal. And these can be lasting when it is a steady and gradual process. The subsiding of the flood in the time of Noah was a gradual and steady process. It took time.

The healing of the blind man in the gospel was again a gradational process. From the state of total blindness, he came to be partially blind when he could “see people looking like trees and walking”. Then he became fully sighted when he could “see everything distinctly”.

Many questions may remain unanswered such as why Jesus led him outside the village. Why did he not heal at a stretch but in a second phase or attempt? Why did he order the healed blind man not to go into the village? et cetera. These may not be unimportant. However, we need not make speculations.

But we can draw some plausible lessons and indications. One lesson is that our recovery and restoration is a process that must be progressive and gradual. We need not expect a sudden and total change all of a sudden and at one shot.

The fact that Jesus took him outside the village before the healing and he told him not to go into the village after the healing shows a dissociation from the village. This may indicate that Jesus did not want the blind man to be unnecessarily disturbed or distracted by others. Whether before or after the healing, the presence of others may create a situation of needless discussions or apprehensions, or judgments. This can take away the main focus on healing. Dissociation from such a situation can make the blind man more focused on his blindness and on God’s compassion that restores his sight.

Being away from the people can also avoid all the clamour and glamour of applause and popularity at the healing. What is important is not that the people sing his laurels but the blindness is removed. There is no self-seeking glory.

Further, all the simple details in the healing episode indicate the personal touch and concern of the Lord. He took the blind man by the hand. He led him outside the village. He put a spittle on his eyes. He laid his hands on the man. Then he laid his hands on the man’s eyes a second time. He restored sight to him. Then he sent him home.

Let us take note of blindness, whether total or partial. At times we may be totally blind, filled with egoism or indifference. We may fail to see God, others, and our own selves. At other times, we may be partially blind by prejudices and lack of clarity. We may misjudge and misinterpret others.

Catholic Leaf is website that provides Sundays and Weekdays catholic reflections. Please use catholic leaf as a tool for preparing your Homily.