What do you want me to do for you?

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12 Psalm 100:2-5 Mark 10:46-52

Mark 10:51  And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight."

If someone were to say to you that you could have anything you want, what would you ask for?  To me that is a tough question.  The man in today's Gospel asked for his sight.  What is interesting is he didn't ask for world peace, or that hunger would be eliminated, or that his candidate would win the election.  He asked for his sight.  And Jesus did not say you selfish servant, how can you only ask for your own healing.  No, he said your faith has made you well.  Before anything else, we must believe that Jesus is the Christ and that with him all things are possible. If we don't believe that, then nothing else matters.

When people say they want world peace or to eliminate hunger they are asking for something they don't believe is possible.  It is a kind of defense mechanism to cover up their lack of faith.  They don't believe so they ask for something so vague and huge that they are justified in their disbelief.  Not that God couldn't do it, but they don't believe it.  Bottom line is ask for something that is attainable and observable that God can do.  The question is do we dare ask?  Do we really believe that God can and will answer?

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always trust that you can and will answer.  Help me to not hide my lack of faith  behind my own prayers, but to be bold in my faith and ask believing that you can and will answer.

Amen