A sailor found himself in harsh and rough waters on the sea.

>> Survival seemed scanty… but he called on the Lord.

His prayers were heard, and he found himself washed up on a small, uninhabited island.

On the island, he again prayed intensely to God, to rescue him.

>> Every day he would scan the horizon for help…

…but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood (wood from the wreckage of the ship) to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after having wandered all around for food, he arrived home..

… Only to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rising up to the skies.

He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.

Stuck with disbelief, grief, and anger, he cried out:

“GOD! How could you do this to me?

You saved me from the shipwreck, but only to abandon me on this island!

>> And now you have taken away my only means of survival.”

Early next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island!

>> It was a rescue ship…

… they had come to rescue him!

“How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers.

“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied!

The burnt hut – which the man had considered as a tragedy and a cruel act from God…

… turned out to be the signal, by which people could come to rescue him.

Even though he had received a rescuing hand, the first time, from the shipwreck…

… he needed a “repeat” intervention, to realise and deepen the awareness of the Providential Presence of God in his life.

What about us?

>> Are we also in need of a “repeat” intervention from the Lord…

… for a greater commitment and dedication to our life of faith?

The Gospel of the Day is the beautiful and unique incident of a blind man, experiencing a “repeat” intervention from the Lord…

… and obtaining total healing and cure.

When Jesus arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to Him a blind man.

Jesus takes aside this blind man, and begins the process of healing…

… a process that takes place in two stages.

Jesus first places His Hands on him and enquiring whether he sees anything

>> The man replied: “I see people looking like trees and walking” (Mk 8: 23-24)

Then Jesus laid His Hands a second time…

… and he saw clearly, with his sight restored. (Mk 8: 25)

This two-step process of healing is a great reminder to us…

… that Jesus was in perfect control of the healing process

… that faith in Jesus is not a one-time event; rather a process that could extend to different stages

Jesus, the great Healer, Who had healed many, with His One Word..

…now also demonstrates that when human beings go through a stage of “not seeing fully, but only men walking as tress”, He is still in perfect charge of the situation.

Jesus, the great evoker of Faith, Who had instilled confidence and hope in many…

…now also demonstrates that growing in faith in Him, is a gradual process.

Each of us in life go through such situations and moments in life…

… when we are blind

… when, even with a touch of the Lord, “we see people looking like trees and walking”

Problems and difficulties often clout our vision

>> Experiences of an encounter with the Lord do keep our faith alive, though feeble

… In all such moments, we need another “touch” from the Lord.

Yes, we are all in need of a “repeat” intervention from the Lord!

As Christians, who have been “in faith” for long time, there are possibilities…

… when our life of faith loses its charm and charisma

… when our resolutions and promises lose touch of its initial fervour and zeal

… when our commitment and dedication fail to have the required enthusiasm and passion

In all such moments of “blind moments” and “blurred vision”…

… we need a “repeat” intervention from the Lord!

Let us therefore, allow the Lord to touch us and experience His Healing Grace…

… to lead us out of blindness and blurredness into clarity of faith and trust.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – “ The beginning of good things is good…

… progress is better

… end is the best!”

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