Seventh Sunday After Pentecost

(Matthew 9:27-35)

The Gospel scene that is set before us today is a perfect encapsulation of the spiritual life and of the relationship between God and mankind.

We heard in today’s Gospel how Jesus was passing by two blind men, and they cried out, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

This image set before us in the Gospel, of blind men calling out to God for His mercy, and of the Lord responding to them in love according to the measure of their faith, this is precisely the true state and picture of mankind. We are indeed like blind men, who have lost our spiritual vision to see the obvious workings and blessings of God occurring every day, every hour, and every minute in our lives. We are extremely limited in our spiritual vision and so often we go about this life as blind men and women, reacting to the ups and downs of this earthly life as if this were all there is… only occasionally ‘seeing through a glass darkly’ at the magnificence and benevolence and eternal perspective of God.

In this world we see different reactions to our spiritual blindness.

Sadly, there are so many that do not even perceive this blindness. They are like the men in Plato’s cave… only seeing shadows on the wall and disbelieving that there is a whole world of light outside the familiarity of their cave.

But for those who might recognize their blindness, for those who can believe that there is that world of light awaiting our discovery, such ones must have the humility to call out to the Lord like the blindmen in today’s Gospel: ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’

And what is the Lord’s reaction to this reaching out of the blind and the sick, who call out to Him for His grace and mercy? Does our Lord look upon us with disgust? Does He recoil from our sickness and sin, telling us to go away? No, He does not… He extends His hand to us, He extends His compassion and His loving-kindness to us, desiring not that the sinner should perish, but that he should live and be healed.

And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’

‘According to your faith, so be it unto you'… this statement contains profound spiritual truth and instruction. How will it be for us?… it will be according to our faith.

Many of us suffer through all kinds of difficulties –physical, psychological, and spiritual problems; interpersonal problems in our relationships with those around us; financial problems and worries about our future; fear and doubt and disease and all manner of disturbances. We need to take an honest look at the circumstances of our life and our reactions to them and ask ourselves: ‘How is my faith?’ For, if according to our faith, so will it be for us – then this is an important and fundamental question.

Our happiness, our contentment, and our blessedness in this life – will be for us according to our faith. Indeed, our eternal fate when standing before the judgment seat of Christ – will be for us according to our faith.

Is our Lord promising us that if we have faith, then all of our problems and infirmities will be suddenly resolved? Certainly not. God will permit in our lives whatever is conducive toward our salvation, and sometimes this may include difficult trials indeed. But it is true that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all things will be added unto us. Our reactions to the circumstances of our life differ greatly depending on the strength of our faith and trust in God. Two people can experience the same circumstances, and one will be in heaven while the other is in hell. How can this be? The one who has faith in the Lord does not despair and retains that perspective and trust that God is watching over him. Even though he may have sorrow, he retains the hope which is born from faith. Another may become immersed in the sorrow of his circumstances and see no way out.

According to our faith, so will it be for us.

God pours out His grace and His love to us according to the measure of our faith. According to the measure of our faith… this does not mean that God is stingy with His grace and love and that He only meters this out to us in reward for however much faith we demonstrate. God does not place the limitation of His compassion on us… we do. We are only capable of receiving the love of God according to the measure of our faith. The more faith and trust we have in God, the more capacity we have to receive His love and grace.

This is what it is all about, brothers and sisters. Our life has been granted to us to work out our salvation with fear of God and with faith. The more we can empty our spiritual bucket of the clutter of the passions and selfishness of this life, the greater is our capacity for receiving the love of God. Let us not be blind… this life is ultimately not about our jobs, our material possessions, our position or standing in the eyes of other people, or any other selfish, material concern. Let us come forth into the light of understanding that we have been created by the generosity of the love and grace of God to receive and be transformed by the love and grace of God. That is what this life is all about – being renewed and transformed by the love and grace of God.

Do you believe that Christ is able to do this? If we can respond ‘Yes, Lord I believe!’ Then, according to the measure of our faith, so will it be for us. May God grant us the courage to have such faith!