And their eyes were opened

The text for today is about Jesus healing a blind man and then a deaf man.  Matthew 9: 27-34. But before he healing there was this exchange:

When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.”

At the end of these miraculous works of God the pharisees response was this:

But the Pharisees said, “By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.”

So, all of this makes me ponder the whole notion of spiritual blindness.  And how helpful it is to believe in the healing power of God.

In the Columbus Dispatch this morning there is an article on the front page with this headline: "Clergy plays stronger role in opiod fight"  It was an article about faith based programs for detox and recovery that had had some success.  They quote a man who was addicted who said: "I felt that voice say, "I'm more powerful than all those drugs; I'm what you're searching for." 

I know that there are people who will read this and not buy into it.  We had AA at my church meeting daily and it works for some and not for all.  And that has also been true of my experience as a Reiki Practitioner. Some people have immediate "results" and for others it is "Meh." There  are never formulas that guarantee healing.  And I imagine all of us have heard people say that others "did not have enough faith" and that is why they were not healed. On the other hand, like  the pharisees we  get int trouble when we are critical and suspicious of "healers" according to our own beliefs and experiences. 

What I know to be true is that there are moments of real  awakening, illumination and healing.  Yesterday at my dream group I shared about my time serving in Zanesville as an Associate minister.  Fresh out of seminary, my first full time position and newly divorced - looking back I wonder how I did it?  But looking back I also am aware of a congregation that prayed for me and that really helped more than I knew at the time but I know now. I keep learning that it is in looking back we see the healings, the transformations, and the miracles of our lives.  The practice of reflection is truly eye opening.

So my mantra for today : OPEN MY EYES TO YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR POWER, YOUR LOVE

Here is a prayer by Saint Benedict

O gracious and holy Father

Give us wisdom to perceive you,

Intelligence to understand you,

diligence to seek you,

patience to wait for you,

eyes to see you,

a heart to meditate on you,

and a life to proclaim you,

through the power of the spirit of Jesus Christ

our Lord