Sermons & Homilies
Today’s Gospel speaks about the healing of two blind men and of a mute man possessed by a demon. Today’s Epistle teaches us that everything which has been written before us has been written for our own learning. Every case of bodily healing in the Gospel is also an image of how God heals our souls. Physical blindness is an image of spiritual blindness. Physical muteness, of spiritual muteness. Spiritual blindness is the inability of our mind—our mental and spiritual vision—to see God Who is everywhere present, to see others as in the image of God, and to see created things in their Creator.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,” (Lk 19:10). We find throughout the Gospels Christ coming as the good shepherd to rescue His scattered flock. He comes to enlighten the ignorant, to raise up the fallen, to heal the diseased, to redeem from hell. Today’s Gospel gives us another episode in Christ’s search for His lost sheep.
Today’s Gospel is about thirst. The thirst of God for man. The thirst of man for God. Let us always ask ourselves: Am I seeking the love of God with my whole heart? Do I thirst for salvation? Or do I thirst for worldly things, pleasures, status, human honor? This is a very simple question, but one of the most important questions in life.
Forty men were being martyred in a freezing lake. One forsook Christ, seeking the warmth of an earthly fire. He died immediately in his fall. The other 39 died soon in their struggle. A pagan soldier saw the apostate’s crown and joined the 39. He died soon in his struggle.
