In the Gospel, Jesus leaves home and starts preaching and developing a following. In the First Letter of John we are challenged to test the voices we hear and to place Jesus' message above all others. Ask yourself, why do you believe in Jesus?
In the Gospel today, Jesus gives sight back to two blind people. Jesus does not undercut or bypass our humanity, but restores us to our full humanity so that we can use it for our own good and the good of others.
Paul reminds us that our citizenship is ultimately in heaven. Keeping this in mind moves us beyond optimism or pessimism and into a mindset of hope— that Jesus has already conquered death and whatever is happening here and now, in the end, Jesus triumphs over all.
Does God really respond to our prayer? Jesus promised us that "if we knock the door will be opened." Our head might believe this, but our hearts sometimes doubt, and that gets in the way of prayer. Trust.
