I was an irregular student for three out of four years during college because I was a transferee from another school. As such, I needed to hurdle up to 32 units per semester to graduate on time. There were times when I resigned myself that I might not be able to make it. I had no idea then how I managed through those difficulties, especially with major exams piling up and the added pressure of maintaining a certain grade to remain eligible for scholarship. I was often in tears, and my doubts slowly consumed me. I might lose the battle if I chose to depend solely on myself. Now, I can attest that it was God’s goodness that has sustained me until this very moment.

Today’s Gospel shows us the importance of firm faith amidst our difficulties. Faith means believing that there is hope and help from God. It is through faith that we will be able to conquer the darkest hours of our lives, just like the two blind men. They believed wholeheartedly that this would enable them to regain their sight.

God makes use of circumstances to test our faith. The question is how we will be able to hold on to that faith and that hope. As a priest-in-process, I am called to trust more, believe more, and lose more. Faith necessitates not only trust and belief but also the loss of something. The more we let go of ourselves, the more we discover God. The more we offer our problems to God, the more we find peace.

By: Sem. Bryan S. Valenzuela

Today’s Gospel

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.