Rev. John Kha Tran

“MASTER, I WANT TO SEE!”

God wants to have a conference with representatives from different political groups before the election. He summons a Democrat, a Republican and a Tea Party’s person, “I have seen so many problems in the world. People are confused. They seem not to know the truth to follow. You are the leaders; I will grant each of you a wish. Whatever you ask me to do to make the world better I will grant it.

The Democrat says, “God, please get rid of all the Republicans and everything will be fine. They have made many people confused. They have led people to wrong directions. They have been insensitive to women’s issues, social issues. They have been wrong about abortions, contraception’s, healthcare and taxations. They are in favor of the rich and neglecting the poor. They have created a big gap between the rich and the poor. You love the poor. They make people confused. You just get rid of all the Republicans and their surrogates and the world will be fine.”

The Republican prays, “God that is not true. Please get rid of all the Democrats. They are the troublemakers. They took your name out of their convention’s platform. They have no respect for you. They are saying that this country is no longer a Christian country. They have been deceiving people. They are rejecting your sovereignty. They give up on defending the traditional form of marriage that you intended for humanity. They promote abortions and contraceptive coverage mandate, free condoms and birth control pills to our children to prevent births. They support same-sex marriage. They are the problem. They cause the confusion and corruption. Because of them, there is no unity and no morality. If you just get rid of them, then our country would be the light of the world again.”

God turned to the Tea Party’s representative, but he does not make a move; he is just standing there quietly. Finally God has to remind him that it is his turn to present his petition. The Tea Party’s person simply says, “Dear God, I am satisfied. I do not need to ask for anything else, please just accept the prayers of the Democrat and the Republican. And I am happy with that. The world would be better without them.”

Prayer at Kansas Senate

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, in 1996, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

Heavenly Father, We come before you today to ask Your Forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ''Woe to those who call evil good,'' but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that;
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism;
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism;
We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle;
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery;
We have neglected the needy and called it self- preservation;
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare;
We have killed our unborn and called it choice;
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable;
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem;
We have abused power and called it political savvy;
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition;
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression;
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of this state and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state of Kansas. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your Will. I ask in in the name of your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ.

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. 

Bartimaeus

“Master, I want to see.” The blind man Bartimaeus gives us a good lesson about prayer. He is blind. He is a beggar. He has no sight, no job, no food, no clean clothing, but he knows how to ask. Hearing that Jesus is coming, he cries out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”  No one can stop him. He has been sitting on the side of the road for years. He is a professional beggar. He knows what he needs. He knows what he wants. He knows how to ask for food, for drinks, for money. He knows to take care of himself. So when Jesus comes near him, he does not ask for these things. He asks for something that others cannot do for him.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks. “Master, I want to see!” He wants to be able to see. He calls Jesus Son of David. He has insight about Jesus’ identity, but he is not able to see his face. So he said, “Master, I want to see.” The first thing Bartimaeus sees is Jesus’ face. He sees Jesus’ face, and he follows HIM with new joy. Jesus is also asking you and me today: “What do you want me to do for you?”  This does not means that he doesn’t know what we want.

His question makes us to search our souls to find out what we want. His question helps us to be aware of our real concerns.

An Eye Opening

The Indiana GOP U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said at the debate last Tuesday that he believes even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is “something that God intended to happen.”  There is an uproar protest against him. Many people have engaged in the discussion. Some angrily react, “God has a plan, and it involves that rapist fathering a kid. Don’t doubt or question it because, damn it all to hell, it’s God’s plan.”

Then Monica Kelsey of Woodburn, Indiana, gives us a new insight. She says she was conceived through rape in 1972. She always knew she was adopted, and says she met her birth mother Sandy about 20 years ago. It was only two years ago, her birth mother told her something else. “My mother was raped at 17. She went to a back alley abortion clinic in 1972,” said Kelsey. “She was so young, she was 17 years old. Her life had been changed, and all she wanted was her life back.” But that day, Kelsey says her birth mother changed her mind. “I owe my life to pro-life advocates, for saying my life was worth saving,” said Kelsey. “I don’t deserve to die for the act of my father.” “Twenty years ago, I was pro-life with exceptions. I never really looked at the child's point of view; I only looked at the mother.” Kelsey heard Mourdock's comments, and then the public outcry for him to apologize. And she said, “I stand behind Richard Mourdock 100 percent because if you're going to be pro-life, there cannot be exceptions, because we're not thinking about the child, if there are exceptions,” Kelsey added. Many people, including victims of rape and their families, have spoken out in opposition of Mourdock’s comments, saying they’ve been victimized again. Kelsey maintains her pro-life, without exceptions, stance. She has now devoted her life to sharing her experience as a pro-life speaker.

 “I’m not a mistake; I am here for a reason. I want everybody to know my life is special, just like anybody's life is special,” Kelsey said.

“Master, I want to see.”
I want to see your presence in my brothers and sisters:
I want to see your presence in my parents, in my children, and in my spouse.
I want to see your presence in the Eucharist.
I want to see your presence in the Church, and in the Sacraments of the Church.
“Master, I want to see.”