Jesus opens our eyes to the reality of God’s presence in our midst, in the goodness of people and in the tenderness of life, even in its vulnerability. He opens our ears to hear the word of God spoken to us by others, revealed to us through the created world. Although the messianic future is already present to us, it is only unfolding, it has not yet opened completely. We still judge each other by appearances. We still miss the presence of God in the poor and the dispossessed, in those who suffer from disease or war or loneliness. We still shun those of another race, or those who have been shaped by another culture, or those who worship God in a different way. We have not yet put aside all of the biases of the past and we have not yet been fully transformed. But God has spoken, God has come to save us. God is trustworthy; God keeps faith forever.