Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

The readings speak to us today of God’s extraordinary power, God’s generosity and how we need to be grateful for God’s accomplishments. The story of the flood and Noah continues in the readings today. The rain has stopped, but the journey is nowhere near complete. Noah sends forth a bird three weeks in a row to find out if it’s possible to download his cargo. The first week the dove returns, the second the dove returns with an olive leaf. The third time the dove does not return at all, signaling Noah that the land was dry enough leave the ark. The next part of the story has Noah showing his gratitude for being spared the flood and finding a new land to call home. Noah shows his appreciation by offering a sacrifice from all of the clean animals and birds. God smelled the sweet odor from the burnt offerings on Noah’s altar, and made the promise, “Never again will I doom the earth because of man…nor will I strike down all living beings, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21)

Psalm 116 is a song that asks the question “How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12). It is perhaps ironic that the refrain for today answers the question. “To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.” (Psalm 116:17a). Thus we not only have the psalm affirming Noah’s response to God, but we are given a challenge for how we each might respond to God’s generosity.

Jesus brings healing today to a blind beggar. Although unusual today, spittle was seen in Jesus’ day to have medicinal value. It is also interesting that the healing became complete only after the second time Jesus prayed. This familiar story calls us to be aware of our own areas of blindness, and it also reminds us that even healing is a process.

For our reflection, let us be aware of our own need to be grateful for the many blessings we have received. Lord bless us this day with openness, so that we might be aware of how you are a healing our areas of blindness. God you are always working to change our hearts to make us better people; help us be open to the ways you are trying to heal us and give us a grateful spirit. Amen.

-Michael Montgomery