Generally speaking, religion is beneficial for people because it teaches people to lead good and upright lives.
But the challenge of religion is that there are religious precepts to adhere to and it calls for faith to accept and keep those precepts.
It also does not mean that just because people believe in God, they will get whatever they want; man's ways are not necessarily God's ways.
Furthermore, when the ways of the world seems more attractive than the ways of God, then the temptation is to abandon the faith and follow the world.
That was the situation that the people of God faced in the 1st reading.
Bad motives and interests were challenging them to take their faith lightly, or even to abandon it totally.
It then went to the extent that the price of faith or religion became the price of one's life.
Some deemed that their lives and worldly benefits were more important, so they followed the king's decree.
Yet, there were many others who stood firm and chose death rather than violate the holy covenant God made with them.
Those who stood firm knew what they wanted and they listened to the voice of their faith rather than the voice of the world.
The blind man in today's gospel also knew what he wanted - that Jesus would take pity on him and let him see again.
But the voices and the scoldings of the people around him could have drowned out his voice.
But let us remember that God hears the small soft voices of the poor and oppressed and those in need.
The powerful and mighty voices of the world will tell us to shut-up and keep quiet. Do we dare to do otherwise?
But do we really know what we want? Do we really know who is the real Lord and Master of the world?
Jesus is asking us : What do you want Me to do for you?
May we respond with this simple prayer to the Lord:
Lord, be our strength when we are weak,
Be our light when we are in darkness,
Show us the way when we are lost,
Give us courage when we are afraid. Amen
Bad motives and interests were challenging them to take their faith lightly, or even to abandon it totally.
It then went to the extent that the price of faith or religion became the price of one's life.
Some deemed that their lives and worldly benefits were more important, so they followed the king's decree.
Yet, there were many others who stood firm and chose death rather than violate the holy covenant God made with them.
Those who stood firm knew what they wanted and they listened to the voice of their faith rather than the voice of the world.
The blind man in today's gospel also knew what he wanted - that Jesus would take pity on him and let him see again.
But the voices and the scoldings of the people around him could have drowned out his voice.
But let us remember that God hears the small soft voices of the poor and oppressed and those in need.
The powerful and mighty voices of the world will tell us to shut-up and keep quiet. Do we dare to do otherwise?
But do we really know what we want? Do we really know who is the real Lord and Master of the world?
Jesus is asking us : What do you want Me to do for you?
May we respond with this simple prayer to the Lord:
Lord, be our strength when we are weak,
Be our light when we are in darkness,
Show us the way when we are lost,
Give us courage when we are afraid. Amen