Deserve it
The parish I used to serve at leads a ministry to the homeless.
Shortly after they started it, a local TV station did a story about it.
I was not directly involved in their work. But when that story dropped, I bragged on the good that everyone involved in that ministry was doing. For some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
Maybe a little too much.
Because I got some blowback about it from a friend. After I sent him the video.
His response? A long-form rant about everything that (in his eyes) was wrong about giving the homeless money. Or food. Or clothes. Or pretty much anything.
Those objections were on my mind when I read today’s Gospel. Where Jesus heals two blind men.
Between my friend’s objections to helping. And all of the things that Jesus doesn’t say and doesn’t do before He helps the blind men. The contrast couldn’t be more striking.
Jesus doesn’t worry about whether healing them would discourage them from dealing with it themselves.
Jesus doesn’t lecture them about what they should have done.
Jesus doesn’t make sure that they won’t misuse it.
Jesus doesn’t care whether it was their fault.
Before Jesus helps them, He doesn’t ask if they deserve it.
It’s a pretty clear picture of how God sees things.
And it is exactly why God has trusted you and me with the means to help others in need.
Today’s Readings
