Today,
with another miracle, Jesus shows us the
process of faith. Curing the blind in two stages tells us that faith
is not always an instantaneous light that falls upon us, but rather a
certain itinerary that take us to the light and allows us to see
clearly. Yet, the first step of faith—to begin seeing God's
light— is already a reason for joy. Saint Augustine says: «Once
the eyes have been cured, what else can we, o brothers, have more
valuable? Let those who can see that light enjoy it, whether it
flares in the sky or comes from a torch. And how unhappy should they
feel those who cannot see it!».
Arriving to Bethsaida
Jesus is asked to touch a blind man who is brought to him. It is
significant that Jesus takes him outside the village; is that not an
indication that to listen to the word of God, to discover the faith
and see the reality of Christ, we have to get out of ourselves, out
of the noisy spaces and times that asphyxiate and blind us, to
receive the authentic enlightenment?
Once
outside the village, Jesus «put spittle on his eyes,
laid his hands upon him, and He asked, ‘Can you see anything?’»
(Mk 8:23). That gesture reminds us of
the Baptism: Jesus does not put any more spittle on our eyes but He
completely bathes our being in the water of salvation and, all along
our life, He questions us about what we see in the light of faith.
«Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again and the man
could see perfectly» (Mk 8:25);
this second time remind us of the Sacrament of Confirmation, when we
are given the plenitude of the Holy Spirit to reach the maturity of
faith and see clearer. To be baptized, but neglect the Confirmation,
allows us to see, indeed, but only half way.
