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Today I feel dear God our Father the pains and sadness of St. Paul in the first reading for his fellow Jews' refusal to accept and believe in your Son Jesus Christ. But it is something more than just about faith, in accepting Jesus as Savior that I am speaking of; you know it very well of some loved ones who are "blinded" by so many other things in life that they cannot see or refuse to see not only Jesus passing by daily in our lives but even us family and friends who truly care for them.
Brothers and sisters: I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.
Romans 9:1-3
How can we open the eyes, awaken our obstinate loved ones to the truth that they are loved when they are fixed with their past, their hurts and pains despite our apologies and amends made to them? How can we make our obstinate beloved realize we are present for them when they prefer their gadgets and things, their addictions and vices, even their toxic friends and relationships? How can we enable our obstinate loved ones experience the beauty of life when all they do is complain what is lacking than what we have?
We pray today Lord Jesus for those people we love who act like those Pharisees and scholars of law who refused to respond to your question when you asked them, "Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?" before healing a man suffering from dropsy; worst, they preferred to be coldly silent after you have healed the man (Lk.14:2-6). Teach us to be more patient and kind, loving and open to still accept those who for all kinds of blindness refuse to accept us, most especially YOU. Amen.
