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Spend Time With Jesus

Catholicism is a unique religion in that, at the center of it all stands a person, Jesus Christ. Fully God and fully man, he is truth, upon which the entire faith rests. Despite all of its doctrines and dogmas, all of its great history, all of its brilliant theologians, Catholicism is about a relationship, a relationship that each of us must come to terms with, our relationship with Jesus Christ. In order to grow in faith, we must spend time with Jesus, alone, one-on-one. As this first week of Advent draws to a close, let us ask for the resolve to recommit ourselves to spending time with the Lord.

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered 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 be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. Matthew 9 : 27-31

Scriptural Analysis

Blindness was a fairly common condition in Palestine at the time of Jesus. It was caused partially by the glare of the eastern sun on eyes that lacked protection and partially by disease resulting from a lack of cleanliness and hygiene. To be blind at that time was to live a life of suffering. Economic and social hardships would befall the blind. Additionally, people viewed blindness as punishment for some kind of past transgression. Therefore, we should not be surprised that so many of the blind seek out Jesus for healing.

These two men address Jesus as, Son of David. What is interesting is if we examine all of the places where Jesus is addressed with this title, it is almost always used by crowds or people who only know Jesus from a distance. It is hardley ever a disciple using this title. This is the first time in Matthew’s gospel that Jesus is addressed with this title and it has Messianic overtones. For years the Jewish people had waited for the promised deliverer who would come from the line of David. As a side note, the title Son of David also recalls David’s son, King Solomon. Solomon was known as a great healer and exorcist.

Jesus did not answer their plea immediately. Rather, seeking to ensure that the men were sincere, he had them enter the house of Peter in Capernaum. He asks them quite directly, “do you believe” or do you have faith. In response to their faith, Jesus touched their eyes, and their eyes were opened. Jesus warns them not to tell anyone about this miracle. Hey wanted to avoid sparking the popular expectation about a political and military messiah which the title Son of David would illicit.

Daily Application

What is interesting about this healing is how it unfolded. Jesus could have stopped in the crowd and addressed these two blind men. He could have healed them right there for all to see, but he did not. He chose to address them privately: one-on-one. This encounter speaks directly to how the spiritual life works.

We can encounter Jesus in a group setting and these encounters can leave us exhilarated, and spiritually on fire. Perhaps you have had that experience at a retreat, conference, or even at one of the Church’s grand liturgies throughout the course of the year. These events leave you feeling spiritually charged and on fire. There is absolutely nothing wrong with his kind of encounter and, in fact, these kinds of encounters can be the start of great growth in the spiritual life.

However, we eventually depart, the group scatters, and go back to your home. We must return to the essential isolation that is inherent in every human soul. No matter how strong and deep our relationships are with one another, the core of our existence is our individual, singular soul. We share that soul with noone. Our soul, our heart was made, as Saint Augustine tells us, for God. It seeks out God and we have to come to terms with that. Sooner or later, we are going to have to confront Jesus alone. We can try to run and hide from that moment. We spend an entire life doing all we can to avoid being alone with Jesus.

Just in case you think that strategy will work, I urge you to recall the words of the Nicene Creed, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” We say that at every Mass: he will come and he will judge. Even if we manage to avoid Jesus in this life, we will still have to stand before him, one-on-one, and be judged. That is an inescapable truth, a future event, that will happen for all of us. There is no escaping Jesus.

Do you want the first time you are alone with Jesus to be on your judgement day? Do you want the first time you sit down and truly speak to him to be the momement in which he is deciding if you spend eternity in heaven or hell? That seems like an awfuly risky strategy to me. Rather, spend time with him now. Let him work on your heart and your soul. Let him show you those areas of your life where you still have unrepentent sin or habbits that need correcting. Allow him to look you in the eyes and ask, “Do you believe?”

There is no more important relationship in this life than the one you have with Jesus. Your relationship with your spouse, childrens, parents, or friends pale in signifigance to your relationship with Christ. As this first week of Advent draws to a close, recommit yourself to prayer, to that alone time with our Lord that is so essentials for your soul. Spend time with Jesus.

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