Our readings again this weekend are taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans and St. Matthew’s Gospel. I continue to encourage all of my readers to allow themselves to glean the particular message that God has for them from these readings. I only share my thoughts here as an model that can be used. It is not my intention to suggest that my reflections are the only ones that can be derived from these readings.
In the reading from Romans, Paul shares his thoughts about patience and self-denial. The 15th chapter of his letter has these words:
… we must not be selfish. Each should please his neighbor so as to do him good by building up his spirit…. May God, the source of all patience and encouragement, enable you to live in perfect harmony with one another according to the spirit of Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and voice you may glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The passage assigned from St. Matthew’s Gospel actually presents two miracles of Jesus: the curing of two blind men and the curing of a mute who was possessed by a demon. Scholars tell us that the curing of the two blind men is actually a doublet of the story of the curing of two blind men at Jericho (20:29-34). In both Jesus is addressed as the Son of David. This was a popular Messianic title. In the version of the story heard today, there is an explicit demand for faith. The same is true about the cure of the mute (12:22-24). Matthew repeats these miracles in his Gospel to present a truly comprehensive summary of the saving power of Jesus.
As I reflect upon these two readings, I think about the fact that as a Christian – a follower of Jesus – I am called to actively make God’s Kingdom real by the way that I treat and interact with others. I am called to build up the spirits of others so that they can begin to experience the love of God. As a follower of Jesus I am called to do this. If, however, I allow myself to be blind and mute because of my unconscious attitudes – prejudices or judgments about others – I fail in living up the my call from Christ to build-up His Kingdom. I must always remember that God’s gift to me of faith in Jesus Christ has been given to me in order to assist in building up God’s Kingdom right now. My salvation comes from understanding that I have been called to build God’s Kingdom.