Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22; Psalm 116:12-13, 14-15, 18-19; Mark 8:22-26
Summary
In our sacred scripture readings today, we have the divine-human relationship described in incremental steps. The divine slowly revealing himself and the human slowly trusting the divine. Like all perspectives they are useful but not exclusive in describing relationships. It s not necessary to believe the Noah story is absolutely true in the strictest version of the narrative. It is useful to describe the variety of ways the Lord protects and guides us.
Noah Opens the Hatch
At the end of forty days Noah opened the hatch he had made in the ark,
and he sent out a raven,
to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.
Then he sent out a dove,
to see if the waters had lessened on the earth.
He waited seven days more and again sent the dove out from the ark.
In the evening the dove came back to him,
and there in its bill was a plucked-off olive leaf!
He waited still another seven days
and then released the dove once more;
and this time it did not come back.
Noah trusted the Lord and built and occupied the Ark. During the flooding the Ark was the only safe place to be and Noah, his family and the animals survived the difficult times. Noah had to discern the safe time to leave the Ark or rather to extend the safety of the Ark to the entire face of the earth.
The Blind Man of Bethsaida
In the gospel portion today a similar incremental revelation.
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.
Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked,
“Do you see anything?”
Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.”
Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly;
his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly.
Divine Limits
If there are limits on the divine it is in the freewill we have to accept the divine love. We test and discern love both human and divine. First we can’t see, then we see with imperfect sight then in time we see him more clearly. The limit is ours, the Lord patiently guides and waits.
Reflection
Open the hatch!
It all starts with the first step. Be opened. Ephphatha!
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021925.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry