God promises to provide a “level road so that none shall stumble.” What stumbling blocks do I experience on my spiritual journey? Do I believe that God longs to remove them?

Finding housing near a university is never easy, but enrolling in a degree program from out-of-state made it all the more challenging. So it seemed practical to accept a room in the on-campus graduate dorm rather than hit the ground looking for a place to live.

They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!”

Many years ago, I lived in Boston and taught at a Catholic high school in an underserved part of the city. During those years, the city of Boston was desegregating their schools. Or trying to. What really was going on was an all-out race and class war.

There is so much that we are blind to in our lives, isn’t there? We don’t see the few pounds we’ve added until the pants don’t button any more. We don’t see the graying hairs and wrinkles until the waitress innocently asks us if we want the senior discount. We don’t see the pain and hurt we cause until someone finally breaks down in tears.

I sat slumped in my pew listening to the drone of the deacon’s sermon. “How do I always get this guy?” I carped to myself. “Please don’t lecture us. Must you sap the life out of every gospel?” the uncharitable complaining inside my head continued.

One day at work I got a call from my wife. She was dealing with a difficult situation at home, but she caught me at an awkward time when I was up to my ears in deadlines, and I was neither much help nor much support.

My friends, we turn now for forgiveness to the God who delivers us.

Receive Christ, receive power to see, receive your light . . . . More delightful than gold and precious stones, more desirable than honey and the honeycomb is the Word that has enlightened us.