It’s always helpful to remember the following truth: The life we are living right now is the life we are choosing.  We are who we are and we act the way we do because we are choosing it.  It doesn’t mean that things that happen to us are our choice.  The truth recognizes, first of all, that God loves us as a perfect Father and offers us every gift in His Son and the Holy Spirit, so They’re doing Their part!  Secondly, this truth recognizes that if we desire a better life which the Father also desires, we can respond to Him!

So, there’s no point in resenting or blaming anyone or anything for our life today—it’s a waste of time.  Jesus calls us to the fullness of life and has given us the freedom to respond.  Remember what Fr. Jacques Philippe says, “Ultimately, God gives us what we desire, neither more, nor less” (Interior Freedom, 34).

By saying this, I’m not saying it’s easy.  I’m also very tempted to blame people, but I always try to remember when things bother me: ‘It’s I.  I must change.  Jesus, You’re always offering me a gift.  I choose it.’

Scripture scholars note that today’s Gospel is about healing from spiritual blindness, because Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem begins and ends with healing of men who are physically blind; these two stories are recounted to make us ponder our own blindness.  Let’s focus on three insights:

1) “As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside” (Mk 10:46).  He’s sitting, meaning he’s waiting, even spiritually.  This symbolizes our temptation to be passive, to resent our life and not do anything about it.

Some people might object: ‘What if we have a terminal illness and can’t do anything about it?’  I think that question misleads us.  A more helpful question is: Do I believe God loves me and has a plan, that Jesus died because He loves me and rose to give me eternal life?  Maybe one thing we can do is love Him in return and love the people around us.  We’ll finish with a story about this.

2) “When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’  Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’  Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’  And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’  So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus” (10:47-50).  Notice how Bartimaeus’s desire increases.  He hears Jesus is coming and calls out for Him; people tell him to be quiet, and so he calls out even more loudly; then Jesus invites him and he gets up.  As his desire increases, he throws ‘off his cloak’ symbolizing his change in life.

A strong desire is essential to growth.  One reason why we often can’t get rid of a particular sin in our life is that our desire isn’t strong enough.  However, if we go to Confession and we’re so sick of that sin, then we’ll be ready to get rid of it completely.

3) “Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’  The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well’” (10:51-52).  Jesus asks us, ‘What do we spiritually desire?’  And how badly do you want it?

Here’s a version of Rule 12 of the Discernment of Spirits according to St. Ignatius of Loyola: “The enemy [the devil] acts as spoiled children do in being weak when faced with strength and strong when faced with weakness…  It is proper to the enemy to weaken and lose heart… when the person… confronts the temptations… firmly; … on the contrary, if the person… begins to be afraid and lose heart in suffering the temptations, there is no beast so fierce on the face of the earth as the enemy of human nature.”  An example of this rule is: Let’s say there’s a good man struggling with alcohol.  In this case, it’s not an addiction (which is a separate issue) but a bad habit because he likes to party.  In his heart, he says, ‘Ah man, I sure hope I don’t drink tonight.’  Do you hear the doubt in his voice?  It’s a great desire, but needs more confidence.  He should say: ‘Jesus loves me; He’s given me everything.  I’m not drinking tonight.  I’ve made too many mistakes before.  I’m not going back.  Jesus, give me more grace because I’m not doing it.’  That night, nothing will happen because Jesus is with Him and that man desires it strongly.  If we desire things weakly, the devil will be strong on us; but, if we go in strong, he’ll run away.

Similarly, if we say, ‘This week, I hope to stay faithful to prayer,’ what will happen?  We’ll miss days of prayer.  The hope is good, and once it’s resolute, the devil won’t be able to overpower us.

Why?  Because Jesus says faith can move mountains, meaning faith touches His heart; He just wants us to trust in His goodness.  Jesus said to Bartimaeus, ‘Your faith has made you well.’  The devil is powerless against strong faith.  Choose whatever area of growth you desire, and Jesus will respond to our faith.

Now, if we wonder, ‘What if I still fall?’  Then go back to Confession and renew yourself.  If we want a stronger faith, ask for it.  Don’t choose lukewarmness and wavering.

To finish, here’s an audio clip from Janet Moylan, about whom I talked before.  She shares how her husband and daughter died on the same day and how she had a choice, which is why her story is called ‘I Choose God.’  Notice also that her son, who almost died, made a beautiful choice (Please listen to 1:12-7:39.)

 

The life we are living right now is the life that we are choosing.  God the Father loves us and always offers us gifts in His Son.  The Holy Spirit is working in our hearts right now increasing our faith and desire.  So, there’s always a chance to choose love.