First reading 1 Peter 2:2-5,9-12
You are a royal priesthood, a people set apart
You are new born, and, like babies, you should be hungry for nothing but milk – the spiritual honesty which will help you to grow up to salvation – now that you have tasted the goodness of the Lord.
He is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God, may be living stones making a spiritual house. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people at all and now you are the People of God; once you were outside the mercy and now you have been given mercy.
I urge you, my dear people, while you are visitors and pilgrims to keep yourselves free from the selfish passions that attack the soul. Always behave honourably among pagans so that they can see your good works for themselves and, when the day of reckoning comes, give thanks to God for the things which now make them denounce you as criminals.
Responsorial Psalm 99(100):2-5
R: Come with joy into the presence of the Lord
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him;
bless his name.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
Gospel Mark 10:46-52
Go; your faith has saved you
As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ And many of them 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 said, ‘Call him here.’ So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbuni,’ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.
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Lord, I want to see!
Bartimaeus was blind, and his condition made him a beggar. Though blind, he had the inner sight to see his need for Jesus. Indeed, he had heard about Jesus, the miracles He did and the teachings He taught. Thus, the moment blind Bartimaeus knew that Jesus was passing by, he persistently called out to Jesus and ignored the people trying to keep him quiet. Deep within, he knew that Jesus could give him back his sight and his dignity to live life fully. Seeing his faith, Jesus healed him. At once, Bartimaeus followed Jesus faithfully on the road of discipleship.
What is our inner need? Bartimaeus’s deepest need was to see physically and stop living his life as a beggar and be part of those who followed Jesus. Are we eager also to follow the Master? Do we ask Him to have a deeper vision of reality and to see with His eyes? Lord, open my eyes to see You so that I can follow You!
Reflective question:
Do I get tired of calling Jesus for help?
Do I get tired of calling Jesus for help?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year B” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
