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and failings, to recognize the dignity of our call, the many gifts, strengths and weakness that are latent in us, we need divine light. We stand in need of gaining a spiritual vision, we are in need of looking at ourselves and the world around us with the eyes of Christ. I have heard some friars say, “we have prayed enough in the past, we have sacrificed enough too. Still there is no change. What is the use of praying so much or sacrificing?” If the blind men in the Gospel did not keep crying out for help, they would not have received their sight. Only after having gained their sight, they followed Jesus. To follow the footsteps of Christ, to announce His message of freedom and fullness of life, we need a new vision, a strong faith vision. We need the light and strength to let go of our hidden selfish motives and personal interests to fulfill our mission, transmitted to us by St. John de Matha and St. John Baptist of the Conception.
May the upcoming feast of our founder and the Christmas celebration be an occasion to receive a fresh infusion of divine light and strength for each one of us and every community of ours. A more powerful and personal encounter with Christ is available to us if we persevere in crying out to the Lord insistently, humbly and confidently like the two blind men in the Gospel. Certainly the Lord will open our eyes and we will be able to follow him more readily and faithfully.
I wish each and every one of you a Happy Feast of St. John de Matha and a Wonderful Christmas!
Fr. Jose Narlaly, osst.
Minister General
relentlessly. No personal interest, gain or comfort came in their way of total surrender. There was a conscious and sustained discernment in all their reflections, deliberations and decisions. Only with the help of this divine light, were they able to detect and acknowledge their personal human weakness. Once their inner motivations were laid bare before their conscience, they humbly admitted to themselves their frailties and failings. Consequently they sought divine assistance which came to their rescue, setting them free from the tyranny of personal pride and egoism. This reminds me of the Gospel incident of the healing of two blind men in the Gospel of St. Matthew:
As they left Jericho, a great crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!” The crowd warned them to be silent, but they called out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!” Jesus stopped and called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with pity, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight, and followed him. (Mt. 21, 29-34).
The blind men received their sight only after calling on the Lord persistently. How insistent are we on seeking divine assistance to know ourselves as we are? To enter the depths of our being, to discover our inner promptings, to lay hands on our personal motivations, to admit our true selves with all the hurts