The Gospel of the blind man was recognized by my boys, specifically my middle son. We had listened to the reading prior to Liturgy. A nasty virus kept us home today, but we made the best of it, watching the service from our kitchen table. A smile vivaciously covered my face, knowing that the little ones listen even when we least expect it.

Sayidna John visited our parish today. He spoke about today’s Gospel and how the blind man who COULD see beyond the ones who had vision. This disabled beggar could see the Lord in his heart and had faith in His healing, His existence. In return, Jesus gave the blind beggar his vision and he followed Christ. We ask our Lord for mercy on us.

Bishop then went on to speak about mercy. What is mercy?Mercy is health, love, peace and so on. God became an infant, completely vulnerable to this world, not some grand king in a palace. Born in the most humble of places, our Lord came to save us.

Bishop then asked, what is a womb? A womb is for the growing babe that gives protection, love, warmth, food and life itself. The Lord is a womb for us. We the people. His followers. I quote Sayidna, “Lord, be for me, a womb. A Giver of abundant everything. “Rahim” (the Arabic word for womb) or “womb,” God created us out of nothingness.”