Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-21) - What do you want me to do for you?

Dearest Goddaughter, 

In today's Gospel, Jesus encounters a blind man while on his way to Jericho. The blind man calls out to Jesus not once but twice. The blind man is unfazed by the people who rebuke him and tell him to be silent. He is fearless because he knows in his heart that Jesus will hear him. Even more than that, he knows that only Jesus can heal him. Jesus can heal all of us if we call out to him in faith.

What does Christ do? Jesus sees him and answers him because the blind man called out to him in faith, trusting in Jesus fully. Jesus says to the blind man, "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus restores sight to the blind man. More than that, though, because of the man's faith, he brought others to believe in Christ. This is exactly what we are called to do when we live out our Baptism promises and carry out the mission of the Church. We are called to live our lives in a way that glorify God and lead others to praise God and come and follow Jesus.

Moreover, in the blind man, we find strength of faith and trust in God that we did not find in the Israelites who "abandoned the holy covenant. . . and sold themselves to wrongdoing" (in today's first reading from the First Book of Maccabees). Too many of us give up on God so quickly and so easily, abandoning our faith, turning out backs on God to worship man-made idols that cannot fulfill our deepest longings. Only God knows our hearts' desire and probes our mind. Only God can fill the empty void in our hearts that we can never fill with anything of this world.

When we turn to God with faith, hope, and love, God hears us and asks us: "Yes, my beloved daughter (or son), what do you want me to do for you?" Jesus will always answer our prayers. We have to trust in God and, as hard as it may be for us, we must also be patient. Sometimes God does not respond right away because, while we are waiting, God is preparing our hearts to receive His response, which is always better than what we could ever imagine, and it is exactly we need - His love and mercy.

Therefore, dearest goddaughter, trust in the Lord our God always. Turn to Him with faith and expectant hope and He will always respond with love because God is love.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 and Luke 18:35-43 (below).

. . .

As Jesus approached Jericho

a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,

and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.

They told him,

"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

The people walking in front rebuked him,

telling him to be silent,

but he kept calling out all the more,

"Son of David, have pity on me!"

Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;

and when he came near, Jesus asked him,

"What do you want me to do for you?"

He replied, "Lord, please let me see."

Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."

He immediately received his sight

and followed him, giving glory to God.

When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.