Monday of the Thirty-third Week in
Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 497
Lectionary: 497
[From the descendants of Alexander's officers]
there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,
son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.
He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven
of the kingdom of the Greeks.
In those days there appeared in Israel
men who were breakers of the law,
and they seduced many people, saying:
"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
The proposal was agreeable;
some from among the people promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to introduce the way of living
of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem
according to the Gentile custom.
They covered over the mark of their circumcision
and abandoned the holy covenant;
they allied themselves with the Gentiles
and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
each abandoning his particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;
they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-five,
the king erected the horrible abomination
upon the altar of burnt offerings
and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,
and whoever observed the law,
was condemned to death by royal decree.
But many in Israel were determined
and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food
or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
Terrible affliction was upon Israel.
there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,
son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.
He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven
of the kingdom of the Greeks.
In those days there appeared in Israel
men who were breakers of the law,
and they seduced many people, saying:
"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
The proposal was agreeable;
some from among the people promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to introduce the way of living
of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem
according to the Gentile custom.
They covered over the mark of their circumcision
and abandoned the holy covenant;
they allied themselves with the Gentiles
and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
each abandoning his particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;
they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-five,
the king erected the horrible abomination
upon the altar of burnt offerings
and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,
and whoever observed the law,
was condemned to death by royal decree.
But many in Israel were determined
and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food
or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
Terrible affliction was upon Israel.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 119:53, 61, 134, 150,
155, 158
R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
AlleluiaJN 8:12
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelLK 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
For the readings of the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the
Basilicas of SaintsPeter and Paul, please go here.
Meditation:
"What
do you want me to do for you?"
Have
you ever encountered a special moment of grace, a once in a life-time
opportunity you knew you could not pass up? Such a moment came for a blind and
destitute man who heard that Jesus was passing by. The Gospel of Mark
identifies this man as Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). This blind man was
determined to get near the one person who could meet his need. He knew who
Jesus was and had heard of his fame for healing, but until now had no means of
making contact with the Son of David, a clear reference and title
for the Messiah.
Faith
and persistence is rewarded
It took raw courage and bold persistence for Bartimaeus to get the attention of Jesus over the din of a noisy throng who crowded around Jesus as he made his way out of town. Why was the crowd annoyed with the blind man's persistent shouts? He was disturbing their peace and interrupting their conversation with Jesus. It was common for a rabbi to teach as he walked with others. Jesus was on his way to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and a band of pilgrims followed him. When the crowd tried to silence the blind man he overpowered them with his loud emotional outburst and thus caught the attention of Jesus.
It took raw courage and bold persistence for Bartimaeus to get the attention of Jesus over the din of a noisy throng who crowded around Jesus as he made his way out of town. Why was the crowd annoyed with the blind man's persistent shouts? He was disturbing their peace and interrupting their conversation with Jesus. It was common for a rabbi to teach as he walked with others. Jesus was on his way to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and a band of pilgrims followed him. When the crowd tried to silence the blind man he overpowered them with his loud emotional outburst and thus caught the attention of Jesus.
This
incident reveals something important about how God interacts with us. The blind
man was determined to get Jesus' attention and he was persistent in the face of
opposition. Jesus could have ignored or scolded him because he was interrupting
his talk and disturbing his audience. Jesus showed that acting was more
important than talking. This man was in desperate need and Jesus was ready not
only to empathize with his suffering but to relieve it as well.
The
blind man recognized Jesus with eyes of faith
A great speaker can command attention and respect, but a man or woman with a helping hand and a big heart is loved more. Jesus commends Bartimaeus for recognizing who he is with the eyes of faith and grants him physical sight as well. Do you recognize your need for God's healing grace and do you seek Jesus out, like Bartimaeus, with persistent faith and trust in his goodness and mercy?
A great speaker can command attention and respect, but a man or woman with a helping hand and a big heart is loved more. Jesus commends Bartimaeus for recognizing who he is with the eyes of faith and grants him physical sight as well. Do you recognize your need for God's healing grace and do you seek Jesus out, like Bartimaeus, with persistent faith and trust in his goodness and mercy?
Bartimaeus
was not only grateful for the gift of faith and the gift of physical sight, but
for the opportunity to now follow Jesus as one of his disciples. Luke tells us
us that he immediately followed Jesus and gave glory to God. The crowd also
gave praise to God when they saw this double miracle of spiritual and physical
vision. Cyril of Alexandria, a 5th century church father, comments on this
double vision:
Now that he was delivered from his blindness, did he
neglect the duty of loving Christ? He certainly did not. It says, “He followed
him, offering him glory like to God.” He was set free from double blindness.
Not only did he escape from the blindness of the body but also from that of the
mind and heart. He would not have glorified him as God, had he not possessed
spiritual vision. He became the means of others giving Christ glory, for it
says that all the people gave glory to God.(Commentary on Luke, Homily
126)
Do you give glory to God for giving you the "eyes of faith" to recognize him as your Lord and Healer?
"Lord
Jesus, open the eyes of my heart and mind that I may see and understand the
truth and goodness of your word. May I never fail to recognize your presence
with me and to call upon your saving grace in my time of need and
healing."
Daily
Quote from the early church fathers: The blind man knows that Jesus is the
Son of David and the Messiah, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"The
blind man must have understood that the sight of the blind cannot be restored
by human means but requires, on the contrary, a divine power and an authority
such as God only possesses. With God nothing whatsoever is impossible. The
blind man came near to him as to the omnipotent God. How then does he call him
the Son of David? What can one answer to this? The following is perhaps the
explanation. Since he was born and raised in Judaism, of course, the
predictions contained in the law and the holy prophets concerning Christ had
not escaped his knowledge. He heard them chant that passage in the book of the
Psalms, 'The Lord has sworn in truth to David, and will not annul it, saying:
"of the fruit of your loins I will set a king upon your throne"'
(Psalm 132:11).
"The
blind man also knew that the blessed prophet Isaiah said, 'There will spring up
a shoot from the root of Jesse, and from his root a flower will grow up'
(Isaiah 11:1). Isaiah also said, 'Behold, a virgin will conceive and bring
forth a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is,
God with us' (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). He already believed that the Word,
being God, of his own will had submitted to be born in the flesh of the holy
Virgin. He now comes near to him as to God and says, 'Have mercy on me, Son of
David.' Christ testifies that this was his state of mind in offering his
petition. He said to him, 'Your faith has saved you.'" (excerpt
from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 126)
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, LUKE 18:35-43 or for the Dedication MATTHEW
14:22-33
Weekday
(1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Psalm 119)
Weekday
(1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Psalm 119)
KEY VERSE: "Have sight; your faith has saved you" (v. 42).
TO KNOW: On their journey to Jerusalem, Jesus took the Twelve aside to prepare them for his eventual death, but they understood nothing of what he said (Lk 18:31-34). When Jesus and his disciples approached the city gates of Jericho, twenty-four miles northeast of Jerusalem, a blind man ("Bartimaeus" in Mark 10:46) heard that Jesus was passing by. He called out, addressing him as the "Son of David," a Messianic title promising that salvation would come through the "house of David" (Lk 1:69). Though the crowds tried to silence the blind man, he pleaded all the more for his sight to be restored. Jesus recognized the deep faith of this man who saw more clearly than the sighted who were spiritually blind. When the man's vision was restored, he gave God the glory and followed Jesus as a disciple. This miracle caused many others to give praise to God.
TO LOVE: Am I able to help others "see" the Lord?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to recognize my own blind spots.
Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of the
Apostles Peter and Paul in Rome
St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul’s Basilica are two of the four main pilgrimage churches in Rome, along with the basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major. St. Peter’s Basilica is located inside the ancient city walls on the Vatican Hill where local Christians believed that the grave of St. Peter was located. St. Paul’s Basilica is located outside the ancient city walls on the Via Ostia where the relics of St. Paul were buried. While both basilicas have great spiritual significance, the saints that they honor are the main focus--St. Peter, our leader in faith, the apostle to the Jews; and St. Paul, the fearless preached of the faith, the apostle to the Gentiles. St. Peter raised up the Church from the faithful flock of Israel; St. Paul brought Jesus’ call to the nations and became the teacher of the world.
Optional Memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin
Rose Perier, was a member of a leading family from the Dauphine region. She joined the Visitation nuns in Grenoble at age 19. Religious communities were outlawed during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, and her convent was closed in 1792. She spent the next ten years living as a laywoman. She established a school for poor children, provided care for the sick, and hid priests from Revolutionaries. When the Terror ended, she reclaimed her convent and tried to reestablish it. However, most of her community were gone, and in 1804 the group was incorporated into the Society of the Sacred Heart nuns. Rose made her final vows in 1805 and she and four sisters were sent as missionaries to the Louisiana Territory to found the Society's presence in America. She was ever concerned about the plight of Native Americans, and much of her work was devoted to educating them. She was known to the native people as "Woman-Who-Prays-Always." She spent her last ten years in retirement in a tiny shack at the convent in Saint Charles, Missouri where she lived austerely and in constant prayer.
Monday 18 November 2019
1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64. Psalm 118(119):53, 61,
134, 150, 155, 158. Luke 18:35-43.
Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands – Psalm
118(119):53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
‘What do you want me to do for you?’
What needs healing in my life? Is there a blindness that I would
like Jesus to heal? To put it differently, is there a darkness limiting my
vision of life? Let us turn to Jesus and ask for healing, life and light.
As we know, transformation takes time, but that doesn’t mean
that transformation isn’t real. It begins when we approach Jesus with our
needs. ‘Heal me. Let me see again.’ Today, let us hear this gospel in hope,
trusting that Jesus desires us to see life itself, and one another, in new and
loving ways.
God of light, you send forth Jesus to be our source of hope in
the midst of all we must face in our lives. He offers healing for us, giving us
inspiration for our road and nourishment for our hearts. Shape our hearts so
that we may be ready and open to receive him.
Dedication of Churches of Saints Peter and Paul
Saint of the Day for November 18
 |
| The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican | photo by Fczarnowski / Image: Statue of Saint Paul in front of the facade of the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Wall, Rome | photo by Berthold Werner |
The Story of the Dedication of the Churches of Saints Peter and
Paul
St. Peter’s is probably the most famous church in Christendom.
Massive in scale and a veritable museum of art and architecture, it began on a
much humbler scale. Vatican Hill was a simple cemetery where believers gathered
at Saint Peter’s tomb to pray. In 319, Constantine built a basilica on the site
that stood for more than a thousand years until, despite numerous restorations,
it threatened to collapse. In 1506, Pope Julius II ordered it razed and
reconstructed, but the new basilica was not completed and dedicated for more
than two centuries.
St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls stands near the Abaazia delle Tre
Fontane, where Saint Paul is believed to have been beheaded. The largest church
in Rome until St. Peter’s was rebuilt, the basilica also rises over the
traditional site of its namesake’s grave. The most recent edifice was
constructed after a fire in 1823. The first basilica was also Constantine’s
doing.
Constantine’s building projects enticed the first of a
centuries-long parade of pilgrims to Rome. From the time the basilicas were
first built until the empire crumbled under “barbarian” invasions, the two
churches, although miles apart, were linked by a roofed colonnade of marble
columns.
Reflection
Peter, the rough fisherman whom Jesus named the rock on which
the Church is built, and the educated Paul, reformed persecutor of Christians,
Roman citizen, and missionary to the gentiles, are the original odd couple. The
major similarity in their faith-journeys is the journey’s end: both, according
to tradition, died a martyr’s death in Rome—Peter on a cross and Paul beneath
the sword. Their combined gifts shaped the early Church and believers have
prayed at their tombs from the earliest days.
Lectio Divina: Luke 18:35-43
Lectio Divina
Monday, November 18, 2019
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Father of all that is good,
keep us faithful in serving You,
for to serve You is our lasting joy.
keep us faithful in serving You,
for to serve You is our lasting joy.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 18:35-43
Now it happened that as Jesus drew near to Jericho there was a
blind man sitting at the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd
going past he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the
Nazarene was passing by. So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on
me.” The people in front scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only
shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to Him, and when he came up, asked him "What do you want me to do for you?" "Sir," he replied, "let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you."
And instantly his sight returned and he followed Him praising God, and all the people who saw it gave praise to God.
Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to Him, and when he came up, asked him "What do you want me to do for you?" "Sir," he replied, "let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you."
And instantly his sight returned and he followed Him praising God, and all the people who saw it gave praise to God.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today describes Jesus’ arrival in Jericho. It is
the last stop before Jesus goes to Jerusalem, where His “Exodus”, according to
what He announced in the Transfiguration scene will take place. He has
also issued similar sentiments along the way to Jerusalem (Lk
9: 44; 18:31-33).
• Luke 18:35-37: The blind man sitting on the side of the road. “Now it happened that as Jesus drew near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting on the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by”. In the Gospel of Mark, the blind man is called Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46). Since he was blind, he could not participate in the procession which accompanied Jesus. At that time, there may have been many blind people in Palestine possibly because of the strong sun and arid conditions.
• Luke 18:38-39: The cry of the blind man and the reaction of the people. “Then he began to cry out: Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” He calls Jesus using the title “Son of David”. The teaching of that time taught that the Messiah would descend from David, a “Son of David”. Jesus did not like this title. In quoting the Messianic Psalm, he asks Himself: “How is it that the Messiah can be the son of David if even David calls him “My Lord?” (Lk 20:41-44) The cry of the blind man bothers the people who accompany Jesus. Consequently, “The people in front scold him telling him to keep quiet.” However, “he only shouted all the louder, Son of David have pity on me!” This occurs in our time when the cry of the poor bothers the established society.
• Luke 18:40-41: The reaction of Jesus before the cry of the blind man. And what did Jesus do? Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to Him. Those who wanted to stop the blind man from shouting now are asked to help the poor man to get to Jesus. The Gospel of Mark adds that the blind man left everything and went to Jesus. He did not have much, only his mantle to cover his body (cf. Ex 22:25-26). His mantle was his home! Today, Jesus listens to the cry of the poor which we do not want to hear. When he came up to Jesus, He asked him: “What do you want me to do for you?” It is not sufficient to shout or cry out. It is necessary to know why he is shouting! The blind man answers, “Lord that I may see again”.
• Luke 18:42-43: Go! Your faith has saved you! And Jesus says, “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you”. Immediately he recovers his sight and begins to follow Jesus praising God. And all the people, when they saw that, praised God. When the blind man calls Jesus by a title that was uncomfortable, by the title “Son of David,” he probably bothered people. His faith in Jesus exceeded his ideas about Jesus. He did not demand anything as Peter did (Mk 8:32-33). Healing is the fruit of his faith in Jesus. Once he is cured, he follows Jesus and walks along with Him toward Jerusalem. In this way, he becomes a model disciple for all of us who want “to follow Jesus along the road” toward Jerusalem. This decision to walk with Jesus is the source of courage and seed of victory in the cross, The cross is not something fatal but rather an experience of God. It is a consequence of the decision to follow Jesus in obedience to the Father.
• Faith is a force which transforms the person. The Good News of the Kingdom announced by Jesus was a sort of fertilizer. It made the seed of life hidden in people grow. That seed lay hidden like fire under the ashes. Jesus blew on the ashes and the fire ignited. The Kingdom appears and people rejoice. The condition was always the same: to believe in Jesus. The cure of the blind man clarifies a very important aspect of our faith. The blind man had faith and was cured despite his understanding of Jesus. He was converted and left everything behind and followed Jesus along the road toward Calvary! The full understanding of the following of Jesus is not obtained from a theoretical instruction but rather from a practical commitment to walk with Him in the way of service. Anyone who insists, as Peter at one point does, that Messiahship comes without the cross, understands nothing of Jesus. Such a person does not have the attitude of a true disciple of Jesus. Anyone who believes in Jesus and gives himself (Lk 9:23-24), anyone who accepts being last (Lk 22:26), anyone who drinks the chalice of suffering and carries his/her cross (Mt 20:22; Mk 10:38), will succeed in “following Jesus along the way” (Lk 18:43). Walking with Jesus is the source of courage and provides the seed of victory in the cross.
• Luke 18:35-37: The blind man sitting on the side of the road. “Now it happened that as Jesus drew near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting on the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by”. In the Gospel of Mark, the blind man is called Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46). Since he was blind, he could not participate in the procession which accompanied Jesus. At that time, there may have been many blind people in Palestine possibly because of the strong sun and arid conditions.
• Luke 18:38-39: The cry of the blind man and the reaction of the people. “Then he began to cry out: Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” He calls Jesus using the title “Son of David”. The teaching of that time taught that the Messiah would descend from David, a “Son of David”. Jesus did not like this title. In quoting the Messianic Psalm, he asks Himself: “How is it that the Messiah can be the son of David if even David calls him “My Lord?” (Lk 20:41-44) The cry of the blind man bothers the people who accompany Jesus. Consequently, “The people in front scold him telling him to keep quiet.” However, “he only shouted all the louder, Son of David have pity on me!” This occurs in our time when the cry of the poor bothers the established society.
• Luke 18:40-41: The reaction of Jesus before the cry of the blind man. And what did Jesus do? Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to Him. Those who wanted to stop the blind man from shouting now are asked to help the poor man to get to Jesus. The Gospel of Mark adds that the blind man left everything and went to Jesus. He did not have much, only his mantle to cover his body (cf. Ex 22:25-26). His mantle was his home! Today, Jesus listens to the cry of the poor which we do not want to hear. When he came up to Jesus, He asked him: “What do you want me to do for you?” It is not sufficient to shout or cry out. It is necessary to know why he is shouting! The blind man answers, “Lord that I may see again”.
• Luke 18:42-43: Go! Your faith has saved you! And Jesus says, “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you”. Immediately he recovers his sight and begins to follow Jesus praising God. And all the people, when they saw that, praised God. When the blind man calls Jesus by a title that was uncomfortable, by the title “Son of David,” he probably bothered people. His faith in Jesus exceeded his ideas about Jesus. He did not demand anything as Peter did (Mk 8:32-33). Healing is the fruit of his faith in Jesus. Once he is cured, he follows Jesus and walks along with Him toward Jerusalem. In this way, he becomes a model disciple for all of us who want “to follow Jesus along the road” toward Jerusalem. This decision to walk with Jesus is the source of courage and seed of victory in the cross, The cross is not something fatal but rather an experience of God. It is a consequence of the decision to follow Jesus in obedience to the Father.
• Faith is a force which transforms the person. The Good News of the Kingdom announced by Jesus was a sort of fertilizer. It made the seed of life hidden in people grow. That seed lay hidden like fire under the ashes. Jesus blew on the ashes and the fire ignited. The Kingdom appears and people rejoice. The condition was always the same: to believe in Jesus. The cure of the blind man clarifies a very important aspect of our faith. The blind man had faith and was cured despite his understanding of Jesus. He was converted and left everything behind and followed Jesus along the road toward Calvary! The full understanding of the following of Jesus is not obtained from a theoretical instruction but rather from a practical commitment to walk with Him in the way of service. Anyone who insists, as Peter at one point does, that Messiahship comes without the cross, understands nothing of Jesus. Such a person does not have the attitude of a true disciple of Jesus. Anyone who believes in Jesus and gives himself (Lk 9:23-24), anyone who accepts being last (Lk 22:26), anyone who drinks the chalice of suffering and carries his/her cross (Mt 20:22; Mk 10:38), will succeed in “following Jesus along the way” (Lk 18:43). Walking with Jesus is the source of courage and provides the seed of victory in the cross.
4) Personal questions
• How do I see and hear the cry of the poor such as migrants,
people of color, AIDS sufferers, beggars, refugees, et al. ?
• What is my faith like? Am I rigid in my ideas about Jesus?.
• What is my faith like? Am I rigid in my ideas about Jesus?.
5) Concluding prayer
How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked
and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread,
nor a seat in company with cynics,
but who delights in the law of Yahweh
and murmurs His law day and night. (Ps 1:1-2)
and does not take a stand in the path that sinners tread,
nor a seat in company with cynics,
but who delights in the law of Yahweh
and murmurs His law day and night. (Ps 1:1-2)
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