Today's Gospel

[water]

Today’s Gospel was about Jesus healing a blind man. I was wondering why Jesus did not heal him right on the first time. The man saw people walking like trees. He finally got healed when Jesus put his hands on him on the second time.

Thanks!

 

[JeanneH]

Hi Water

Today’s Gospel was about Jesus healing a blind man. I was wondering why Jesus did not heal him right on the first time. The man saw people walking like trees. He finally got healed when Jesus put his hands on him on the second time.

Thanks!

When a person, blind from birth, regains his sight, it takes time for him to gradually focus on objects and to understand what his new eyes see. Jesus again laid his hands on this blind mans eyes.
The same is true of the spiritual realm. Jesus does not let us see everything at once, but conversion is realized bit by bit.

Hope this helps.
JeanneH

 

[mommyof4]

Why did Jesus, in today’s Gospel reading, lead the blind man outside the village to heal him? And why did he warn him not to go back into the village?

I think a clue to the answer is in how long it took him to receive his healing. Jesus gave him vision, but he only received it partially; Jesus had to pray for him a second time.

Have you ever “seen” something new, some new insight or answered prayer, which helped you grow in faith, but when you told others about it, their skepticism made you doubt it? We have to protect our minds from anything that hampers our belief in God’s love and his compassionate help. When we share our good news, if it’s not accepted, it’s better to “leave that village” or at least change the subject. This is not anti-evangelization; we are not failing to be the witnesses that Christ commissioned us to be when we were baptized.

The blind man was probably too easily influenced by the doubts of the people around him. If he had trouble believing that a miracle would actually happen to him, it’s no wonder his healing came slowly. Jesus dealt with this by taking him by the hand and giving him private attention. Had Jesus prayed for him in front of the townsfolk, the man might have focused on them and their opinions, rather than on Jesus.

We need to be selective about the people we listen to and spend time with. In the business world, those most likely to succeed are people who make friends with those who are already successful. Psychological studies have shown that by surroundings ourselves with happy, upbeat people, our spirits are uplifted, and that we when we’re constantly with people who are depressed and pessimistic, we become like them. In Christianity, spending time with others who are strong in the faith will help us grow in the faith.

For this reason, it’s very important that whenever our churches offer parish retreats and other faith-building events, we should make it a top priority to attend – and stay afterwards for the refreshments to socialize with others. We should also join Small Christian Communities to gain more faith-filled friendships.

When we spend time being influenced by truly Christian people and truly Christ-like attitudes, we open our hearts to the truth, the healings, and the answers to our prayers that we need. As we grow stronger in faith, we become the successful witnesses that Christ commissioned us to be. Then, the time and compassion we give to others will open their hearts for the truth and the miracles that Jesus wants to give them.

From: good news ministries gnm.org/index.shtml

 

[mommyof4]

And from Fr. Rory Fitzpatrick

All the miracles of Jesus were worked, not just for those who clearly
benefitted most directly from those miracles, but also for all of us who
would hear of the miracles, and reflect on their significance.

Consider, for instance, the blind man of Bethsaida, who was cured by
Jesus in stages. For, after Jesus put spittle on his eyes and touched
them, the man started to see, but his sight was still muddled, for, as he
said, “I see men like walking trees!” But then, when Jesus set His
healing hands on the man’s eyes a second time, the man was able to see
clearly.

Why wasn’t the man’s sight restored fully at first? Certainly, it was
not the case that Jesus failed to do a full job of healing the first
time! Although not mentioned explicitly, it is possible that the gradual
healing reflected the man’s own gradual illumination by the light of
faith. Another enlightening interpretation recognizes this miracle as a
lesson for all disciples of Christ, for even after the Lord has begun to
make us partially see some essential points, we still need the humble
patience to allow Him to help us see what He wants us to see ever more
clearly.

 

[water]

Another enlightening interpretation recognizes this miracle as a
lesson for all disciples of Christ, for even after the Lord has begun to
make us partially see some essential points, we still need the humble
patience to allow Him to help us see what He wants us to see ever more
clearly.

Thank you JeanneH and Mommyof4.
Today, the priest did say about us being patience and allow Jesus to help you see what He wants us to see.

I am not sure if his homily was a coincident, but before the mass today, I was praying to ask the Holy Spirit to help me make the decision or someone to help me with the decision of going to the Charistmatic healing/praying

I’ve been confused with this movement because of seeing postive/negative about it. His homily seems to help me decide to go to this Healing section.

The reason behind this is that there was some supernatural experiences happened to me, and I am not 100% sure if it is all from God.

 

[Traditional_Ang]

Thank you JeanneH and Mommyof4.
Today, the priest did say about us being patience and allow Jesus to help you see what He wants us to see.

I am not sure if his homily was a coincident, but before the mass today, I was praying to ask the Holy Spirit to help me make the decision or someone to help me with the decision of going to the Charistmatic healing/praying

I’ve been confused with this movement because of seeing postive/negative about it. His homily seems to help me decide to go to this Healing section.

The reason behind this is that there was some supernatural experiences happened to me, and I am not 100% sure if it is all from God.

Water:

I’ve also seen good as well as bad in “the Charismatic Movement”. The only thing I can say is that, aside from seems to be an undue emphasis on the emotional and experiential, I’ve not seen any heresy, lack of submission to the Magisterium among “Charismatics” or any thing but occasional bad-taste on their part.

Otherwise, I suggest you try to apply the following:

1 John 4:1-3 The Message - *My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.

Here’s how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!*

Luke 6:43-44 ESV - “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.”

1 Corinthians 12:3 NIV - Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:19-23 NIV - *The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.*

1 John 4:7-8 NIV - Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

I’m pretty sure most parishes and grops involved in the “charismatic movement” will pass the test posed by these scriptures.

May the Lord bless and guide your prayer meeting.

Your Brother in Christ, Michael

 

[water]

Hello Michael,

Thank you for all the verses. Because of the confusion, I’ve come to learn more about the Scriptures which I had done less in the past. I love it here in CAF.

 

[Joysong]

Hello Water,

The reason behind this is that there was some supernatural experiences happened to me, and I am not 100% sure if it is all from God.

God has graciously left us some teachings that will help with discernment, and also show us how to progress in pure faith, rather than in reliance upon them. St. John of the Cross is a Doctor of the Church, so you can fully trust his words, for no saint attains to this honor unless his writings are able to instruct us with truthful doctrine.

You may purchase the book, or read this index on line to see which of your experiences are described, and then follow his advice. These begin in Book II.

 

[water]

Hello Water,

God has graciously left us some teachings that will help with discernment, and also show us how to progress in pure faith, rather than in reliance upon them. St. John of the Cross is a Doctor of the Church, so you can fully trust his words, for no saint attains to this honor unless his writings are able to instruct us with truthful doctrine.

You may purchase the book, or read this index on line to see which of your experiences are described, and then follow his advice. These begin in Book II.

Thank you, joysong. During this time of discernment, I have tried to convince myself to grow in faith rather than in reliance on seeing things. Thomas has reminded me a lot about his unbelief until Jesus appeared to him.

Thank you for the link. I will spend some time reading it.

 

[Joysong]

Very good to grow in faith, Water. The way St. John presents it is that faith is dark to our understanding, yet it is a sure way to union with God. He advises that we lay aside the supernatural experience in order to walk in the darkness of faith so that the “experience” does not hinder us through too attaching too much importance to it. He lists the dangers of not detaching from them, and assures us God is not offended.

St. Peter gives the same advise in 2 Peter 1:

18 And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Though he was privileged to see the Lord in the supernatural revelation of the Transfiguration, he cautions that it is better to cling to the prophetic word as a more certain light.

 

[water]

Very good to grow in faith, Water. The way St. John presents it is that faith is dark to our understanding, yet it is a sure way to union with God. He advises that we lay aside the supernatural experience in order to walk in the darkness of faith so that the “experience” does not hinder us through too attaching too much importance to it. He lists the dangers of not detaching from them, and assures us God is not offended.

St. Peter gives the same advise in 2 Peter 1:

Though he was privileged to see the Lord in the supernatural revelation of the Transfiguration, he cautions that it is better to cling to the prophetic word as a more certain light.

Thanks Joysong for explaining the verse. I would’ve had difficulty understanding it. I will save the verse to my website after attending mass today so that I can always refer back to it. My confessor also advised me not too get so caught up with the supernatural experiences.