Seeing With Eyes Of Faith

Last night, I had a night of fun, food and fellowship playing bocce with the RCIA/catechetical team of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish. As we were saying our goodbyes to one another at the parking lot to call it a night, there were Jupiter and Venus in the night sky, shining brilliantly like we  have never seen them before. I whispered a silent prayer, “Thank you Lord of Creation for this wonderful night.”

I wondered how many looked up the skies last night to marvel at the sight of this beautiful night sky. I wondered how many people spent this delightful evening with family and friends, sharing food, fun and fellowship. After dark and stormy nights, there come nights like these. Even as the storms rage around, there are moments and spaces of peace, quiet, love and harmony.

It does make a difference to see things with the eyes of faith. The disciples saw Christ driving out evil spirits from those who were possessed. And they marveled and were filled with awe at the His power. Here was no ordinary man. Here was God the Almighty working among them. Others saw the same event and they were filled with fear and unsettled from their comfort zones. They would have nothing to do with this Christ.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
~ Psalm 34

When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes,
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him.
They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him,
“If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”
And he said to them, “Go then!”
They came out and entered the swine,
and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea
where they drowned.
The swineherds ran away,
and when they came to the town they reported everything,
including what had happened to the demoniacs.
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus,
and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.
Matthew 8:28-34