Stages

“Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘Don’t even go into the village.’” (Mark 8:25–26).

Christ Healing the Blind (Sadao Watanabe)

I have been reflecting on the Gospel of Saint Mark and miracle of Christ healing the blind man at Bethsaida…

“They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, ‘Do you see anything?’  He looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’  Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Jesus sent him home, saying, ‘Don’t even go into the village.’” (Mark 8:22–26).

This is the only miracle in the Gospel that happens in stages.  First the friends bring the blind man to Christ, and then Christ takes his hand and leads him away from the crowds, then He rubs dirt and spittle into his eyes.  And the man can see a little at first – not clearly.  And then Christ touches his eyes again.

And this is about perception.  For the man represents me.  You see, I have faith.  I see God.  But I do not see God clearly.  I do not have faith that is sure of Him.  I do not understand Him.  And the more I know Him and the more I trust Him the more I can love Him.  And still, I do not look to my Beloved with love and know Him…  I am spiritually blind to Christ, and I have known Him all my life – since I was a tiny little baby and taken to be baptised by my parents in the Church…

But what this story tells me is that Christ does not leave us alone and afraid.  He takes me by the hand and leads me away from all the distractions in my life.  Perhaps this is what He did for me when my little baby died before he was even born?  He allowed that to happen so that He could take me by the hand and lead me away.  And then, as I cried for years and years afterwards, He spent time mixing spittle and dirt to rub into my eyes.  And even then, I could not see at first.  And so, He did it again.  And again He had patience when I could not see.  He stayed with me until I could see.  And that took a very very long time.  And the miracle sits between moments of understanding rather than in an instant.

And I have been thinking about that today as I have been reflecting on that miracle, because Christ comes to us in moments.  And He joins the dots between.  And without that, I would not be saved – I would never be saved…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.