Healed of Spiritual Blindness

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to consider if the lack of “spiritual milk” in our daily actions is blinding us to the beauty of our role in living in community with others.

See Our Community

The Reading from the First Letter of Peter exhorts us to live in God’s House and be Christian Examples.

* [2:1–3] Growth toward salvation is seen here as two steps: first, stripping away all that is contrary to the new life in Christ; second, the nourishment (pure spiritual milk) that the newly baptized have received.

* [2:3] Tasted that the Lord is good: cf. Ps 34:8.

* [2:4–8] Christ is the cornerstone (cf. Is 28:16) that is the foundation of the spiritual edifice of the Christian community (1 Pt 2:5). To unbelievers, Christ is an obstacle and a stumbling block on which they are destined to fall (1 Pt 2:8); cf. Rom 11:11.

* [2:9–10] The prerogatives of ancient Israel mentioned here are now more fully and fittingly applied to the Christian people: “a chosen race” (cf. Is 43:20–21) indicates their divine election (Eph 1:4–6); “a royal priesthood” (cf. Ex 19:6) to serve and worship God in Christ, thus continuing the priestly functions of his life, passion, and resurrection; “a holy nation” (Ex 19:6) reserved for God, a people he claims for his own (cf. Mal 3:17) in virtue of their baptism into his death and resurrection. This transcends all natural and national divisions and unites the people into one community to glorify the one who led them from the darkness of paganism to the light of faith in Christ. From being “no people” deprived of all mercy, they have become the very people of God, the chosen recipients of his mercy (cf. Hos 1:9; 2:23). (1 Peter, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 100 is a hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings.

* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them. (Psalms,CHAPTER 100 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals the physical and spiritual blindness of Bartimaeus.

* [10:46–52] See notes on Mt 9:27–31 and 20:29–34. (Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Nancy Shirley reflects on considering love as knowledge, Augustine theology would imply that truly loving someone or something requires deep knowledge of it.  She thinks that’s why as so many of us age, we delve deeper into the Bible and spiritual readings to more deeply understand our relationship with God and our need to connect. 

Perhaps this reads as more of a classroom presentation than a reflection and thank you for indulging me.  The need for this deeper understanding is what drives my ability to reflect – I need that knowledge to put perspective on my life. I leave you with one last quote from St. Augustine – his most famous quote on beauty:

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!

The Institute of Catholic Culture asserts that it reflects a spiritual awakening to divine beauty, describing it as a transcendent force that calls to the soul and offers peace.  I suppose that is what happened to me when I attended mass on Thanksgiving Day, 1997 and found peace for my soul. While I have listened many times to the song O Beauty, Ever Ancient (the link is below) by Father Roc O’Connor, I never really understood its meaning until now. I am a Beloved Child of God!! (Shirley, 2026)

O Beauty, Ever Ancient

The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12 comments that in today’s first reading, St. Peter describes the “before” and “after” experience that his Gentile readers had after they first “tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:3). Once they were in darkness, but now they have stepped into God’s “wonderful light” (2:9). Once they were “no people,” but now they are “God’s people.” Once they “had not received mercy,” but now they have received God’s mercy (2:10).

Today, spend some time thanking and praising the Lord that you are among the countless people who know they belong to him. Thank him that you have received his mercy—and continue to receive it. Then “taste” his goodness when you come to him in prayer, when you read his word in Scripture, and when you receive his grace in the sacraments. You will grow closer to him every day!

“Lord, I am in awe of your goodness and mercy! With all my heart, I thank you!” (Meditation on 1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the reading from 1 Peter speaks of seeking pure spiritual milk, We are living stones that build up spiritual life. Peter proclaims a chosen race, now the Gentile Christians who called as a holy nation to live in the world and not of the world, marked as different to show other values and to follow Jesus. In the Gospel of Mark Jesus is in Jericho on the way to Jerusalem. Blind Bartimaeus addresses Him: “Jesus , Son of David, have mercy on me.” We are reminded that there are times of insistent prayer when we pound our fist on gates of heaven. Friar Jude comments that Jesus' proclamation that “Your faith has saved you” indicates the blind man is healed physically and spiritually. Friar Jude observes that by identification of Jesus as “the Son of David”, the blind man could see more clearly than the sighted that Jesus was the Son of David.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces his friends, Andreas Ebert and Patricia C. Brockman, who summarized how the Spirit was at work during this period of Richard’s ministry.

The young people he taught and led on retreats were overwhelmed with the gospel message. They gathered around this enthusiastic young priest, hungry for Scripture, increasingly eager for the shared life described there. Their weekly prayer gatherings began with fervent charismatic prayer and expanded from a group of teenagers to, at times, more than a thousand persons of many ages and diverse backgrounds. All the signs and wonders of the early church flourished among the prayers. It eventually became clear that enthusiasm was not enough, and among those followers some desired to live in a closer bond and within the discipleship of Christian community. Thus, New Jerusalem came into being, a laboratory-church where many came to commit themselves to the dream of a church that follows and trusts Jesus. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the work of the Spirit in the growth and development of the Church and the increase of love and compassion in our own growth as followers of Christ.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?46 

Meditation on 1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/28/1579869/ 

1 Peter, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/2? 

Psalms,CHAPTER 100 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Birth of a New Community. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-birth-of-a-new-community/ 

Shirley, N. (2026, May 28). Daily Reflection May 28, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved May 28, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-28-2026 

Ambition for Service

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, proclaim our mission to live in mutual love with the people in our environment.

Care in Service

The Reading from the First Letter of Peter proclaims Mutual Love of Christians.

* [1:19] Christians have received the redemption prophesied by Isaiah (Is 52:3), through the blood (Jewish symbol of life) of the spotless lamb (Is 53:7, 10; Jn 1:29; Rom 3:24–25; cf. 1 Cor 6:20).

* [1:22–25] The new birth of Christians (1 Pt 1:23) derives from Christ, the imperishable seed or sowing that produces a new and lasting existence in those who accept the gospel (1 Pt 1:24–25), with the consequent duty of loving one another (1 Pt 1:22).

* [1:23] The living and abiding word of God: or, “the word of the living and abiding God.” (1 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 147 exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created.

* [Psalm 147] The hymn is divided into three sections by the calls to praise in Ps 147:1, 7, 12. The first section praises the powerful creator who restores exiled Judah (Ps 147:1–6); the second section, the creator who provides food to animals and human beings; the third and climactic section exhorts the holy city to recognize it has been re-created and made the place of disclosure for God’s word, a word as life-giving as water. (Psalms, PSALM 147 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents a Third Prediction of the Passion and notes the Ambition of James and John.

* [10:38–40] Can you drink the cup…I am baptized?: the metaphor of drinking the cup is used in the Old Testament to refer to acceptance of the destiny assigned by God; see note on Ps 11:6. In Jesus’ case, this involves divine judgment on sin that Jesus the innocent one is to expiate on behalf of the guilty (Mk 14:24; Is 53:5). His baptism is to be his crucifixion and death for the salvation of the human race; cf. Lk 12:50. The request of James and John for a share in the glory (Mk 10:35–37) must of necessity involve a share in Jesus’ sufferings, the endurance of tribulation and suffering for the gospel (Mk 10:39). The authority of assigning places of honor in the kingdom is reserved to God (Mk 10:40).

* [10:42–45] Whatever authority is to be exercised by the disciples must, like that of Jesus, be rendered as service to others (Mk 10:45) rather than for personal aggrandizement (Mk 10:42–44). The service of Jesus is his passion and death for the sins of the human race (Mk 10:45); cf. Mk 14:24; Is 53:11–12; Mt 26:28; Lk 22:19–20. (Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Edward Morse comments that, in today’s gospel, we see that even the apostles behaved selfishly and badly. Even though they lived with Jesus and heard his teachings, this intimate knowledge did not prevent them from seeking after their own glory at the expense of others.

This divine mystery was not yet known to them. But it has been made known to us. Does that knowledge have the potential to change the way we see ourselves and others? Even those we find difficult to love?

As we journey on toward our eternal destiny, we are accompanied by these mysteries. Let us draw hope and strength for the journey, even though we do not understand them fully. Perhaps for now it is enough to know that we are deeply loved, even when we struggle to love others, who are also deeply loved by God. And perhaps grace and mercy will be nearby, helping us to love more fully, as we ought. Thanks be to God. (Morse, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 10:32-45 comments that, at first glance, being a “servant” doesn’t usually seem appealing. It’s only when we remember how much Jesus loves us that our hearts begin to soften. It’s as we recall that we were created to give him glory by reflecting his own generosity and kindness. The simple truth is that the more we give of ourselves, the more Christlike we become. We grow in holiness. We become more peaceful, more contented, and even more joyful!

Probably the best way to look at our call to serve is to look at Jesus. He is the perfect model of what a life of service looks like. We can ask him, “How can I serve you today, Lord?” If the opportunities before you seem mundane—like making a meal for your family or taking an elderly parent to a doctor’s appointment—remember Jesus’ great promise: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Every opportunity to care for someone else is another opportunity to meet Jesus!

“Lord, help me desire to serve you and your people above all else!” (Meditation on Mark 10:32-45, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage today is in tenor with 1 Peter yesterday that presents the ransom by the blood of Christ as God’s plan from the beginning and we are called to live godly lives and dedicate ourselves to brotherly love as the text notes that all flesh is grass as a symbol of our limited life. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus predicts His Passion in Chapters 8, 9, and 10. He presents the image of  the Son of Man from Daniel 7 who has authority over all the nations and the Suffering Servant from the poems in Isaiah that define the mission of Jesus. James and John ask to sit on His right and left as they talk about inheritance and when Jesus speaks of death. They claim to be willing to take up their crosses. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus declares the Son of Man came to serve and not be served. We are called die in our ministry, a bit each day, to our selfishness to serve those who most need God’s love.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, envisions the Holy Spirit as the loving immensity of God’s presence within us. Consciousness, the soul, love, the Holy Spirit, on both the individual and shared levels, have sadly become largely unconscious! No wonder some call the Holy Spirit the “missing person” of the Blessed Trinity. No wonder we try to fill this radical disconnectedness through various addictions.

There is an Inner Reminder, an Inner Rememberer, (see John 14:26, 16:4) who holds together all the disparate and fragmented parts of our lives, fills in all the gaps, owns all the mistakes, forgives all the failures, and loves us into an ever-deeper life. This is the job description of the Holy Spirit, who is the spring that wells up within us (John 7:38–39)—and unto eternal time. This is the breath that warms and renews everything (John 20:22). These are the eyes that see beyond the momentary shadow and disguise of things (John 9); these are the tears that wash and cleanse the past (Matthew 5:4). And better yet, they are not only our tears but are actually the very presence and consolation of God within us (2 Corinthians 1:3–5).

You must contact this Immensity! You must look back at your life from the place of this Immensity. You must know that this Immensity is already within you. The only thing separating you from such Immensity is the ego’s unwillingness to trust such an utterly free grace, such a completely unmerited gift. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We recognize our need for the inspiration and guidance of the Spirit as we proclaim our desire to work with Jesus in the mission to serve with love in our environment.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?32 

Meditation on Mark 10:32-45. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/26/1578480/ 

Morse, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-27-2026 

1 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/1?18 

Psalms, PSALM 147 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/147?12 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Spirit Is Always with Us. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-spirit-is-always-with-us/ 

Spiritual Life of the Last

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to live with holiness and mutual love when it is often the last practice when blinded by the prosperity myth.

As the Last will be First

The Reading from the First Letter of Peter proclaims the call of God’s people to holiness and to mutual love.

* [1:10–12] The Spirit of Christ (1 Pt 1:11) is here shown to have been present in the prophets, moving them to search, investigate, and prophesy about the grace of salvation that was to come (1 Pt 1:10), and in the apostles impelling them to preach the fulfillment of salvation in the message of Christ’s sufferings and glory (1 Pt 1:12).

* [1:13–25] These verses are concerned with the call of God’s people to holiness and to mutual love by reason of their redemption through the blood of Christ (1 Pt 1:18–21).

* [1:13] Gird up the loins of your mind: a figure reminiscent of the rite of Passover when the Israelites were in flight from their oppressors (Ex 12:11), and also suggesting the vigilance of the Christian people in expectation of the parousia of Christ (Lk 12:35).

* [1:14–16] The ignorance here referred to (1 Pt 1:14) was their former lack of knowledge of God, leading inevitably to godless conduct. Holiness (1 Pt 1:15–16), on the contrary, is the result of their call to the knowledge and love of God. (1 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 98 extolls God for Israel’s victory

* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents the priorities of the “first”.

Mark 10.31 But many that are first will be last, and [the] last will be first.”  (Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. George Meze, SJ, reflects on the words of Jesus: “There is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more.”

Does not spiritual freedom come by surrendering our need to control our situations? Perhaps a good example is the act of forgiveness. There are people who suffer not because they have done wrong, but because they have been wronged, and they find it extremely difficult to forgive. In most cases, while it is easy to be forgiven, forgiving others is rather difficult. However, the grace to forgive brings great peace and frees us from bitterness. Peace is a hundredfold better than the false sweetness of revenge.

The reality of following Christ is always filled with abundance, even in seemingly hopeless situations. There is always more to receive in our giving: A hundredfold profit by investing ourselves in Christ. (Meze, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 10:28-31 notes the reaction to Jesus’ words about how hard it can be for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.  Peter told Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28). You can hear him asking himself, “What’s the use? We’re just poor fishermen; will we receive anything in return for following Jesus?”

Jesus’ response is as clear as it is amazing: they will receive “a hundred times more” in this life (Mark 10:30). God will bless them all overabundantly for everything they have given up.

If you make these offerings, big or small, Jesus will take them and use them to build his Church. You can’t multiply them by yourself, but he can. As you unite your acts of generosity and selflessness with the Lord, they will reach much further than they ever could without him. They will change hearts, heal wounds, and restore dignity. You may not always see the results, but you can trust that Jesus is ready to do great things through you!

“Lord, I offer all my actions, words, and thoughts to you today. Help me to do your will!” (Meditation on Mark 10:28-31, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the reading from 1 Peter speaks of the prophets who had foretold Jesus was part of God’s plan. The people now too should live a life of obedience seeking to be “Holy as God is Holy”  We are consecrated to the things of God. The reward concerns Peter, and Friar Jude cautions about adopting a Gospel of Prosperity as this is not what Jesus means. Friar Jude proclaims they will be living proudly as joyful people who celebrate everything like Francis of Assisi. We will live profoundly in our joys and sorrows by living with Jesus.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Feminist theologian Rebecca Button Pritchard who describes how the Spirit accompanies our embodiment. Recognizing how the Spirit lives, moves, and breathes in our bodies allows us to live a wholehearted, courageous faith:

True spirituality, embodied spirituality, may be described as wholeheartedness, as the integration of body and spirit, of nephesh and basar, of heart and soul. It is with this wholeheartedness that we hear and follow God’s voice; it is wholeheartedly that we find the words to cry out to God, to sing praise, to speak a prophetic word, a comforting word, to tell our stories, and to make sense of all our relationships. 

Wholehearted spirituality in the freedom of the Spirit gives us courage, courage to bear witness to God’s grace against all odds, courage to speak despite efforts to silence us, courage to act authentically and in ways that encourage and empower the weak and the vulnerable. The Spirit gives us the wisdom to discern truthful moments, to bring both suspicion and trust to the interpretation of both past and present. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the insight of the Spirit as we apply Jesus' proclamation of reversal of fortune in our action to support the lives of the “last” in our societal priorities.

References

Mark, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?28 

Meditation on Mark 10:28-31. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/26/1578480/ 

Meze, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-26-2026 

1 Peter, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1peter/1?10 

Psalms, PSALM 98 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 26, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-spirit-given-voice/