First reading Apocalypse 1:1-4,2:1-5
Think what you were before you fell, and repent
Responsorial Psalm 1:1-4,6
Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the Lord
and meditates on his law day and night.
Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the Lord watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Gospel Luke 18:35-43
‘Son of David, have pity on me’
Seeing again
“Sir, let me see again.” The blind man’s request to Jesus is notable for its simplicity and wisdom. He asks for what he truly needs, not just physical sight but also a vision of faith. That is why he turns to Jesus, rather than anyone else. Pope Francis wrote, “Faith does not merely gaze at Jesus but sees things as Jesus Himself sees them, with His own eyes: it is a participation in His way of seeing” (Lumen Fidei 18). The blind man wants to see the world again differently – in faith.
Do we see the same need? We often need to look again at a situation, an experience, a specific person or even ourselves with new eyes of faith. As we pray, let us listen to Jesus asking personally: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Like the blind man, let us ask Jesus to teach us how to see with humility, hope, and patience, learning to recognise the good that is present before noticing the lack.
Reflective question:
How is Jesus teaching me to see again?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.