Daily Gospel Reflection
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November 16, 2020
As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
The blind man in today’s gospel is a great example of faith for us for one main reason: he knows that his eyes need to be opened and he knows that only Jesus can do it. This is because his blindness is not only physical but also spiritual. In his willingness to ask for physical healing, he fully relies on Jesus and, at least in part, overcomes his spiritual blindness. As Jesus says, it is his faith that heals him.
For those of us who have vision, it can be difficult to understand what it is like to be blind, but we can all relate to the experience of spiritual blindness. We know that our faith can be stronger. We know that there are blind spots (sometimes big ones) in how we see the world.
I once attended a large dinner that was meant to simulate the experience of dining without vision. All the attendees wore dark, heavy blindfolds and committed to leaving them on through the entire evening. My world was completely transformed. I was disoriented as I met new people at my table but could not see their faces. I struggled to find the food on my plate with my utensils. Luckily, there was someone who helped me get from my table to the bathroom or I might have really caused some damage. For me, this was an eye opening experience in coming to understand the lives of people with visual impairments.
On another level, it helped me to think about my spiritual blindness, too. Because I can rely on my physical senses, I don’t usually think about my spiritual senses. To what extent do I navigate the world by my faith, my trust in God, hope, and love for others? Probably less than I should. If I were to rely solely on those senses, I would probably be just as disoriented as I was when my sight was taken away.
The blind man shows us that, when we rely on ourselves, we can really underestimate our need for healing. Once we place our physical and spiritual needs before God, we can be healed. And transformed.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, the blind man knew what he needed, and wasn’t afraid to keep asking aloud. Grant us his persistence and courage. You know we have many needs. In voicing them, we give voice to the needs of all, and thus bring your healing to all. Remove our fear and timidity, please, so that we can bring your healing to others. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Margaret's faith was a catalyst not only to her own holiness but that of her family's.
Margaret was born a princess in Hungary around 1046 and, after her father's exile, spent much of her youth in the court of her uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor, also canonized a saint. During the Norman invasion, Margaret's family fled from William the Conqueror and ended up shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm of Scotland took them in and was utterly charmed by Margaret. Margaret and Malcolm fell in love and were married in 1070.
Margaret and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters, and Margaret was as excellent a mother as she was a wife. Margaret carefully supervised the education and religious instruction of her children; her youngest son, David, has also become a canonized saint. Margaret's husband Malcolm had a good heart, but was rough and uncultured and was often irritable and domineering. With patient wisdom and iron resolve, Margaret earned his trust as a counselor with her clear advice and practical wisdom. Through her example of rational goodness and kindness, Margaret softened Malcolm's hot temper and guided him in practicing a life of virtue.
Margaret used her position of great influence to promote the arts and more available education in Scotland. Margaret founded several churches with her husband and initiated dialogues with the hierarchy about reforming abuses of power in the Church. It was Margaret's great delight to make the churches she and Malcolm built beautiful, reflecting God's splendor. Margaret often embroidered priests’ vestments for Mass with her own two hands.
From today's Office of Readings, the office quotes the pastoral constitution from the Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, to celebrate Margaret's saintly witness in marriage:
"True married love is caught up into God's love; it is guided and enriched by the redeeming power of Christ and the saving action of the Church, in order that the partners may be effectively led to God."
Despite her many duties in the court and for her family, Margaret was perpetually faithful to prayer. She gave up sleep in order to have time for devotions and she often meditated on the words of Scripture. During Advent and Lent, Margaret would get up in the middle of the night in order to attend Mass at midnight every night. On the walk home, she would stop to care for the poor beggars, washing their feet and giving them money. The destitute sought her out for aid, and Margaret never refused them. Pious legend claims that Margaret never sat down to eat herself without first feeding nine orphans and two dozen beggars.
In 1093, Margaret died at home in Edinburgh upon hearing the news that her husband Malcolm and one of their sons were killed in battle. Some of Margaret's relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus. Our featured image of St. Margaret of Scotland was created by Matthew Alderman, a 2006 graduate of the School of Architecture.
St. Margaret of Scotland, who helped your husband grow in virtue and taught your children to be saints—pray for us!
Image Credit: Image by Notre Dame alumnus Matthew Alderman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of his art. Used here with permission.