An Encounter with Mercy at 11pm.

The story of Jesus healing the two blind men in Matthew's Gospel probably needs no introduction for most of us. In fact, this was one of the scripture passages you would probably have heard at Mass last week, if you managed to attend a Weekday Mass of course. We all know how Jesus healed the two men. And we know that Jesus did so because of their faith. 

However, as I was reflecting on this passage last week, the first line of the passage was what caught my attention. 

"As Jesus went on his way, two blind men followed him, shouting, "Take Pity on us, Son of David!""

I found it rather strange that two men, who were both visually impaired, were able to follow someone. This someone, who we all know to be Jesus, led them to the house, where he restored their sight. I found it rather thought-provoking that two men, who could not see, were able to follow the light of the world. And when they reached a destination, the light of the world gave them new sight. 

I suppose that being blind does not completely impair one from travelling. After all, a blind man still has his other senses of hearing, touch, smell and taste. It might be harder for a blind man to travel, but with the additional effort, with the use of his other four senses, and with the help of others, he too can reach the same destination as any ordinary man. 

This passage revealed to me that perhaps I was going blind. I was impaired from seeing with the eyes of faith. And the reason for this blindness was not because of any hereditary disorder but because of life choices. I was blinded by my sins, by my iniquities, and my attachments to this world. But in spite of my blindness, I felt the Lord tell me that he was glad that I was keeping my prayer life alive, and still trying to follow him, just like the two blind men did. 

However, the two blind men needed to arrive at the house for Jesus to heal them. I asked the Lord where the house was where I could be healed of this blindness. The answer that came to me was rather obvious; the confessional. 

And so it was that I reached out to a priest who is also a friend of my dad. I told him that I'd be in Church from 11pm that night, all the way till the next morning, as I was on a 3am duty for the Perpetual Adoration that the parish was hosting for the jubilee. I asked if he'd be available in the morning, obviously because I did not want to disturb him late at night. However, he asked if it was alright for me to see him at 11pm that night instead, as he was headed off for his own retreat the next day. I gladly accepted his offer, and after my community session that night, I made my way to Church. 

When I met him for what I thought was going to be a quick 10 minutes confession, I told him about my revelation earlier that day. About how I was blind, and how I had still been following Jesus in spite of my blindness, and how he had led me to the house for me to be healed. He told me in reply that to believe that this encounter with God's mercy at some ungodly hour would be possible, and to have the assurance that our God was ready to welcome me home in the middle of the night, was in itself an act of faith. That was rather profound to me. That it was God himself who was willing to meet me where I was at, and to welcome me home in the middle of the night. It was Jesus who opened the door to me when most people would be getting ready for bed. I was reminded of how we truly have a God who is always here for us, and who never stops loving us. 

The sacrament of reconciliation that night was a personal encounter with the Lord for me. I received great healing that night, as well as some really sound advice and a heart to heart conversation with the priest which lasted till almost midnight! But more importantly, I received the love of God. It was the same Jesus who spent a great part of his life on earth healing others and forgiving others, who healed me and forgave me. He did not turn me away just because it was the middle of the night and it wasn't an urgent matter. Instead, he rejoiced at my choice to return home. 

My friends, when we become blinded because of our sins, there are two things that we can do. One would be to do what the popular action song suggests; to sit by the road and cry. But there's also the option to follow Jesus in spite of our blindness, and to follow him to the house where he will heal you personally. Will we allow him to heal us?