💖 HOMILY - FEBRUARY 15 💖

First Reading - Genesis 8:6-13,20-22 

Gospel - Mark 8:22-26

Faith is said to have a transforming effect, provided it's allowed to transform oneself. The readings of today touch upon the sap of our faith, the Word of God, that sustains us in our faith and transforms us daily, hence we need to give an appropriate place to the Word of God in our lives.

The first reading presents an account of the receding of flood and the normalization of life after the flood. The story teaches us that there is a chance of begining anew after a great chaos and confusion in life. The flood destroyed everything and when water receded Noah begins a new life by thanking the Lord and offering Him a sacrifice. In the story, we see patience and faith of Noah in his waiting for the receding of water. It's interesting to notice that Noah gives credit to God for his new life and acknowledges His goodness. In fact, the whole action of Noah displays his great faith in God.

The gospel demonstrates a beautiful episode of the healing of a blind man. This episode of the healing of the man incites doubts in the power of Jesus unlike other miracles as is performed two times as if to perfect the first. However, the symbolism of the miracle clarifies our suspicious views on the miracle. The symbolism of the episode is to display the recognition of the identity of Jesus by his disciples who till now couldn't know him but slowly come to recognise Jesus after receiving a touch or blessing from him like the blind man who received the first touch of Jesus and was able to see but not clearly but with the second touch, he recovered his sight fully; so be with the disciples who now recognise the identity of Jesus vaguely with his first blessing or touch (referring to the miracles and teachings of Jesus) but they will recognise him with the second touch (evidence of resurrection).

Dear friends, a question is posed to us today, "Do we recognise Jesus?" This question is asked time and again and we have our different answers. We can be Catholics but without really recognising Jesus fully like the disciples in the initial stages. We can be believers but without seeing Him clearly like the blind man. We do need a second touch of Jesus to recognise Him fully as was done for the blind man and disciples in the gospel. The second touch for us is to allow the Word of God to sink in our hearts and saturate us through and through. When the Word of God finds place in us in a right way, we will be transformed and our perspective will change.

The Word of God can ignite doused or extinguished fire of religiosity or religious piety. Many say that they don't find meaning in the Christian faith or religious piety/practices and don't live it. They need to revisit the inflaming fire of the depth of spirituality and meaning of Christian faith in the Word of God that spoke to many in the past and continues to speak even now. The Word of God must find place in us and be allowed to transform us, hence the real vigour will spring forth from within.

We have received the first touch of Jesus by our faith let's allow the Word of God to touch us again, so that we may live it daily in our lives.