The reading from Jeremiah reminds us that despite our current tears and lamentations God will gather us together and provide us with great joy. That might be easy to believe when we are not in the middle of trauma. I can only imagine the person caught between different cartels, with each as willing to kill us as to crush and ant on the pavement.
The Psalm reminds us of the same when it says, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” Do we really appreciate what we do have instead of complaining about what we don’t have? It seems we are always looking for more. To win the Lotto, to get a promotion, to obtain a raise, to meet the right person to marry, to be in better health!
The second reading reminds us that Jesus understands our plight. He himself experienced what it means to be human with all its pains and sufferings. Have you ever thought of Jesus having a headache, or a skinned knee, or bumping his head, or an upset stomach from eating bad food?
In the Gospel we have the blind person who “sprang up” to meet Jesus. Are we as willing to encounter Jesus in our lives, or are we more timid? Do we shuffle along toward heaven or are we advancing full force? Are we as willing to express our faith as this blind person was? Are we as hungry for a life with Jesus as we are for the extra donut at a Sunday morning social?
Countenance of God 