“Relying solely on the Word of the only One who is truly sighted – God Himself!”

(Based on Rom 1:1-7 and Lk 11:29-32 – Monday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time)

A television program preceding the 1988 Winter Olympics featured blind skiers being trained for slalom skiing…
… impossible as that sounds.

(Slalom Skiing is a snow-mountain skiing between poles or gates.

The poles are spaced more closely than those in other types of skiing
… and therefore requires quicker and shorter turns.)

Paired with sighted skiers, the blind skiers were taught first, how to make right and left turns.

When that was mastered, they were taken to the slalom slope, where their sighted partners skied beside them shouting, “Left!” and “Right!”

As they obeyed the commands, they were able to negotiate the course and cross the finish line, depending solely on the sighted skiers’ word.

It was either complete trust or catastrophe!

This is a vivid picture of the Christian life!

In this world, we must rely solely on the Word of the only One who is truly sighted–God Himself.
His Word gives us the direction we need to finish the course.

This requires immense faith
This requires hopeful belief

The Gospel of the Day is an example of how we become resistant and stubborn in refusing to have this faith and belief.

This is reflected by the sighing words of Jesus: “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah!” (Lk 11:29)

What made Jesus to respond so strongly?

Is Jesus against asking signs?

Is Jesus against lack of faith?
Is Jesus against having doubts?

The answer to perhaps all the three questions above is…
… not in the affirmative!

Jesus is NOT necessarily against asking signs…

The Bible is a witness to many people asking for signs from God…
• Gideon asked for a sign from God (Judg 6:17)
• Moses asked God what sign would prove to Pharaoh that he was sent by God (Ex 4:1)
• Elijah promises what Elisha had asked for, on the condition of a sign (2 Kg 2:10)
Jesus is NOT out rightly against lack of belief or unbelief…
• The unbelieving Thomas, was chided, but not condemned by Jesus, after His resurrection (Jn 20:27-28)
• The lack of faith of the disciples is saddening for Jesus, but He does not reject them (Mk 4:40)
• The father, whose boy was possessed with a demon was blessed with a healing, on his acknowledgment of littleness in faith (Mk 9:24)
• The emotionally unsettled and wavering Peter is given another chance to prove his loyalty despite his rejection and denial of faith in Jesus (Jn 21:15-17)

Then what is Jesus against?
Jesus is against those people…
… who reject faith, despite many signs and wonders that are plainly presented
… who demand for greater miracles for merely curiosity and excitement
… who make use of the powers of God for personal satisfaction and gratification
… who remain stone-hearted, unmoved and indifferent despite clear indications and signals from God.

Am I also a person who constantly rejects signs and wonders from the Lord, and fail to grow in faith?

Am I also a person who remains obstinate and indifferent to God’s powers, and fail to be open to God’s movements in my life?

The Lord is constantly speaking to us through various miracles.

The Lord is constantly moving our hearts through many blessings.
The Lord is constantly inspiring our lives through immense wonders.

Our Christian life requires us to rely solely on the Word of the only One who is truly sighted–God Himself.

His Word gives us the direction we need to finish the course.

This requires immense faith
This requires hopeful belief

Let us be open and docile to Him!

Today we seek the intercession of Pope St John XXIII – one of the most popular Popes of the 20th century – on this feast day.

He was the one who convoked the historical ‘Vatican Council II’, which paved the way for “throwing open the windows of the church, to let the fresh air of the Spirit blow through.”

Let us give heed to his words: “Prayer is the raising of the mind to God.

We must always remember this. The actual words matter less.”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CHURCH – PREPARED FOR IN THE OLD COVENANT

The gathering together of the People of God began at the moment when sin destroyed the communion of men with God, and that of men among themselves.
The gathering together of the Church is, as it were, God’s reaction to the chaos provoked by sin. This reunification is achieved secretly in the heart of all peoples: “In every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable” to God.
The remote preparation for this gathering together of the People of God begins when he calls Abraham and promises that he will become the father of a great people.
Its immediate preparation begins with Israel’s election as the People of God.
By this election, Israel is to be the sign of the future gathering of all nations.

But the prophets accuse Israel of breaking the covenant and behaving like a prostitute. They announce a new and eternal covenant. “Christ instituted this New Covenant” (CCC #761-762)