16th NOVEMBER. MONDAY IN WEEK 33

1st Reading: 1Maccabees 1:10-15

The Jews suffering under persecution by Antiochus Epiphanes

From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanies, son of King Antiochus; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred-thirty seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. In those days certain renegades arose in Israel and misled many, saying, " Let us make a covenant with the Gentiles around us, for since we separated from them many disasters have come upon us." This proposal pleased them and some of the people eagerly went to the king, who authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentile custom, and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.

Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding towns of Judah, and offered incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. The books of the law that they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. Anyone found possessing the book of the covenant, or anyone who adhered to the law, was condemned to death by the decree of the king. But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food. They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Very great wrath came upon Israel.

Gospel: Luke 18:35-43

Jesus cures a blind man, who then praises God and follows him

As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, " Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." Then he shouted, " Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me!" Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, " Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, " What do you want me to do for you?" He said, " Lord, let me see again." Jesus said to him, " Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS ON THE READINGS

The gift of sight

A certain survey source said that 80% of our works depends on our eyes. 80% is rather a big chunk of activities that means totally blind people have an output of only20% with regard to work. This means that for the blind people: goodbye outdoor sports; goodbye job opportunities because they have a limited number of them; goodbye cross stitching; goodbye movies and swimming;   and so on and so forth.

The blind man in today's gospel asked Jesus to be healed most probably because he missed to enjoy the things mentioned above due to his defect but was silenced by the people in front of him as they scolded him  and told him to keep quite but he shouted all the more: "Son of David have pity on me." Jesus saw the obvious need of the blind and said, "Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you."

The fact the the blind that could not see is undeniable fact. However, if he could not see with his naked eyes he could see with his loving heart. Spiritually we too, are blinds because we have complete eyes to see but we don't like to look. We are blind because sometimes we don't see and recognize the needs of others just like people in today's gospel. We see children begging for food and money in the streets for survival  and we say to ourselves" They are running mad." God gave us eyes so that we can see. God gave us a heart so that we can see better. Let us use them all the time.

The blind man at the Jericho gate longed for the fuller life that restoration of his sight would allow him, so he asked Jesus strongly, " Lord, that I may see!" Obviously the blind man was totally aware that receiving his sight would involve new demands for him, new responsibilities to family and friends, he was willing to take his chances. Thus having received back his sight, he began to follow Jesus  " giving glory to God." His life was given a new focus. Now he could see his wife and children, his friends and surroundings, as treasured gifts.

Our own conversation may not be as total or dramatic, but we should still pray for the spiritual sight to see the world and others as God's blessing, and to see by what ways the Lord is leading us- and his church- right here and now.

Persistent in prayer.

There is something endearing about the blind man in today's gospel. He has that great quality of persevering prayer. When he turned towards Jesus and prayed, " Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me," the people around him scolded him and told him to keep quiet. Yet in the face of this obstacle, he simply shouted all the louder, "Son of David, have pity on me." He was not going to be put off his prayer by other people's intolerance of him. He models for us what persevering prayer looks like. The man's prayer was motivated by his need to see again. Likewise, our own heartfelt prayer of petition is driven by some very deep needs within us. 

In bringing our needs to the Lord we allow Him to transform us, and allow Him to engage with them and respond to them, just as Jesus responded to the need of the blind man when he brought his need to Jesus in prayer. The blind man after being healed his prayer never ceased. The gospel tells us that " he followed Jesus praising God." His prayer of petition changed to a prayer of praise. The prayer of praise may not come to us naturally as the prayer of petition. Yet, we all have something to praise and thank God. The blind man teaches us the lesson not to forget to enter into this kind of prayer, in response to all the ways the Lord has blessed us and continues to bless us.