Saint for the day: Rose Philippine Duchesne (Aug. 29, 1769 – Nov. 18, 1852)
Scripture Readings for today’s Liturgy
1 Maccabees 1:10:15, 41 ….63 – Psalm 119 – Luke 18:35-43
“Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Though the snares of the wicked are twined above me your law I have not forgotten.” (Today’s Responsorial Psalm 119)
Today we move into this last week of our Church Liturgical year and in two weeks we will begin all over again with the 1st Sunday of Advent. So, we are given yet another chance to try to get it right: “Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.”
Today’s 1st Scripture reading from 1st Maccabees is yet another example of how we, as a people saved on so many sides, so easily forget that God has called us back time and again to know His loving presence. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see how easily this scripture reading could apply to many places in our world today. It’s a good thing that I’m not God ‘cause I would have given up on these people who I had rescued time and again from their folly.
But, therein, is the point that we need to understand: God never gives up on us and just like today’s Holy Gospel, we have to be like that blind man and beg God to allow us to see. And therein lies the secret: this man is asking for more than a physical ability of what we might call sight. He’s asking to see! To understand. To comprehend. To be able to grasp everything possible to know about Jesus. The Holy Gospel tells us, “Have your sight; your faith has saved you.” And he followed Jesus, giving glory to God.”
We are like that blind beggar and we, too, need to know who It is that can save us as we cry out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on my!” But don’t forget! We have to leave our “begging place” and follow Jesus, giving glory to God.”
Most of the time, once we have experienced some blessing from God we quickly forget where and from what we came as we return and go about our life as before. Every encounter with God gives us a new way of seeing His wonder. But it’s only the beginning of our journey to the Kingdom. The ending of today’s Holy Gospel is key: “When the people saw this healing they gave praise to God.”
Ask yourself: is my relationship with God something that draws people to know something more about God’s wonder? Amen!