Reflection for Monday 33rd Week in Ordinary time

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Reading of Today's WORD of GOD

Luke 18: 38 - 42

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me !”

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied

Today's Reflection

The Rebellion of the Maccabees was against the Attempted Paganising of Israel. He Wanted to Force His Jewish Subjects to Conform to All the Hellenistic Laws & Culture of the Surrounding Nations. He Provoked a Military Crisis by Trying to Suppress Jewish Religious Traditions in order to Make Them Embrace the Ways of Modernity.

The Blind Man Sitting at the Jericho Gate Needed the Restoration of His Eyesight, so He Asked JESUS Aloud, “LORD, that I may See!” Even when the Bystanders Wanted to Silence Him, He was Willing to Take His Chances & Shouted even More Loudly. After Receiving Back the Gift of His Sight, He Began to Follow JESUS, Giving Glory to GOD. His Life Now had a New Focus. The Whole Wonderful World was Visible as He Followed JESUS Along the Way.

There is Something Endearing about the Blind Man who Kept on Shouting Until Somebody Listened. In the Face of Opposition, He Perseveres in His Prayer. When He Asked, “JESUS, Son of David, Have Pity on Me,” the Onlookers Scolded Him & Told Him to Keep Quiet. But He Simply Shouted His Prayer Out Louder, “Son of David, Have Pity on Me.” Undeterred by Other People’s Intolerant Attitude, He Models for Us what Persevering Prayer Looks Like. It was Driven by His Need & His Confidence in JESUS.

Our Own Heartfelt Petition can be Driven by Some Deep Need We Feel. In Bringing Our Need to GOD We Open Ourselves for a Blessing, just as the Blind Man Did when He Brought His Need to JESUS. He Did Not Cease to Pray when He was Healed, though Now His Prayer was Changed to Thanksgiving & Praise. We All have Much to Thank GOD for. The Blind Man Teaches Us Not to Forget to Say Thanks for All the Ways the LORD has Blessed Us.

1) We, too, Need Healing from Our Spiritual Blindness which Makes Us Incapable of Seeing & Appreciating the Living Presence of GOD Within Ourselves & Others. For that Healing, We also Require the Same Trusting Faith the Blind Man Displayed in the Healing Power & Mercy of JESUS, & the Same Persevering Persistence in Our Prayers. We Need to Pray with Conviction, Urgency & Constancy.

2) We Need to Repeat the Prayer of the Blind Man, “LORD, let Me Receive My Sight,” when Our Faith is Feeble, when We Cannot Understand the Reason Behind GOD'S Plans, & when Our Commitments Become Shaky.


Good Morning

GOD Bless Us All

Have a lovely day and a great week ahead.