“Master, I want to see”

Today at Holy Mass St Mark tells us that people in large numbers were flocking to Jesus……His fame as a result of the many healings he performed was spreading……Were these people only interested in being healed physically or were they interested in what Jesus had to say?….One should consider that question, even today, as we pray for “this or that”….Should we instead pray to be transformed?…..Putting those questions and thoughts aside…St Mark tells us that demons recognized Jesus - Interesting - Do you believe that demons exist?……Jesus tells us that they do exist many times throughout Scripture…”And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known”………I believe there would be no arguments made about the reality of evil in the world - But many people do not believe that demons are actively working against our interests and the interests of God - Do we believe this? - If not, you should!…..Jesus seems to be able to see these demons - But how about the people in the crowd around him? - Did they see them?…….The same thing happens to this very day…Only when we live in the state of grace - Only when we pray daily and fast weekly - Only when we frequent the Sacraments will we “see” the battle for good and evil that is being waged around us continually….So many Americans have “mainstreamed” objective mortal sin…Our people do not “blink” at these actions any more….The use of contraception - Abortion - No fault divorce - Same Sex Marriage - Usury…To name a few…..Not only have these actions been “mainstreamed” in America but many in our society think nothing is wrong with them…….God however thinks differently!…..But how can we “see” as God sees when it comes to the intrinsic evil that has made its way into our culture?……..Only when we live in the state of grace can we “see”……That is why Jesus saw “unclean spirits” today in the Gospel - The question then becomes - What do we see?

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel”

If you have ever gone to a funeral in America, everyone is utterly convinced that the person who died is in heaven…..This includes Catholic funerals…While no one is saying we should condemn people when they die, we should however think long and hard at what the Church has taught for 2000 years and what is required of us as Catholics to make sure we stay in the state of grace…..The Church is very clear - If we commit mortal sin and do not confess it to a priest, we do not go to heaven….Now people “only know what they know”, which is one of the conditions for mortal sin (Full Awareness) - However, just because society “thinks” something is “no big deal”, we as Catholics should not “go along to get along”……The presence of evil is deceptive - The devil does not walk around with a tail and red horns…Evil always presents itself as “a good” - Evil “sneaks” under our front door like a mist, it comes to us through our phones, computer and the television…Are we vigilant?…..The devil is smarter then we are and he plays the long game - The devil also knows all our weakness and each of us have weakness….This is why St Paul tells us…..”Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”……But before we defend ourselves and our family from this evil - We first have to “see” it…….And many do not “see”!……..Jesus warns us - “If a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a pit”....…This image presented to us by Jesus of “the blind leading the blind” is what we “see” today in real time….Our society is for the most part blind and only when it turns to God will its sight be restored…..Most of our problems today stem from this “blindness”…..And for that very reason, just as Bartimaeus in the Gospel of St Mark asked Jesus - “Master, I want to see.” - We too should do the same - Ask and we will receive!

“For you have rescued me from death, my feet, too, from stumbling; that I may walk before God in the light of the living”

Today at Mass, we are told in the Gospel by Jesus himself that demons are a reality…..Jesus saw these demons because his heart was pure…..How about us?…The world today is “selling” us a very different “narrative” from the one told to us in the Gospel - Do you buy it? - Do you go along to get along?….Catholics are meant to be “salt and light” in this dark world - We are to live among people - Not to conform to this world but strive to conform the world to Christ…Before we do all that, we must “see” properly….Our “spiritual sight” has very little to do with reading books, as many think….…We can read all the right things and still be blind….Our sight rests in the condition of our hearts and only God can sanctify the human heart……What we “see” matters - What we “see” determines not only what you do - It determines ultimately who we are and where we will end up for all eternity……….“Master, I want to see”…….JMJ