Delivered by Jeril from the Parish of Saint Joseph in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. 1 Maccabees 1: 10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Rs psalm 119: 53.61.134.150.155.158; Luke 18: 35-43.

MAYI SEE

Ourmeditation today is entitled: May I See. There is a story in the Old Testament,about a number of Israelites choosing to submit to the decree of King AntiochusEpiphanes to worship the gods of the Gentiles. For that reason, they built agymnasium in Jerusalem and many temples in the midst of their very religioustraditions.

Buttheir actions were opposed by other fellow Jews who remained firm in theirfaith in the God of their ancestors. These believers could see God veryclearly. While those who chose to worship idols had their eyes closed so theywere not able to see and worship the true God. This is the content of our firstreading taken from the First Book of Maccabees.

Thissituation is also described in the Gospel of today. People who were worldly intheir attitude wanted to prevent the meeting of the blind man with Jesus sothat he would not receive healing and sight. Meanwhile, the blind man hadfaith. He saw and called on the Lord. Our lives are also divided between thosewith the eyes of faith that enable them to see clearly and the eyes of theworld that are blurred and even blind, making them unable to see the mystery ofGod's glory.

Thosewho are consistent and faithful in their faith are considered to have visionsof faith that are clear, real, and bright. This vision indeed builds a person’strust. These eyes of faith shape the life of a believer, so that even thoughthey are in difficult moments, troubles, and persecutions, it is this faiththat helps them endure in life. When they see and experience disaster, murder,hunger, sickness, and neglect, they will respond with an attitude formed byfaith.

However,perhaps many of us have difficulty in seeing with the eyes of faith. Perhaps wewho hear this meditation are not the same as those who worship idols, or whohave renounced faith, or who are hostile toward believers. But it can be truethat in the midst of difficulties or suffering, both spiritual and physical,there are people who are unable to face them with an attitude of faith. Perhapspeople immediately think negatively, or see things only in physical, outward,or material terms. Consequently, their souls become fragile and easily losehope. But if their souls are strong, their faith firm, and their vision offaith clear, they will still rely on God in all aspects of their lives. So, theprayer that we ought to say is: O Lord, may I see You.

Let’s pray. In thename of the Father… O Father of all wisdom, may we be able to see with the eyesof faith all realities of life, especially the difficulties and sufferings weexperience. Hail Mary, full of grace… In the name of the Father…