First reading 1 Maccabees 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-64
The persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes
There grew a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; once a hostage in Rome, he became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. ‘Come,’ they said ‘let us reach an understanding with the pagans surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from them many misfortunes have overtaken us.’ This proposal proved acceptable, and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise the pagan observances. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the pagans have, disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to the heathen rule as willing slaves of impiety.
Then the king issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs. All the pagans conformed to the king’s decree, and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the sabbath. The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death.
Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed. It was a dreadful wrath that visited Israel.
Responsorial Psalm 118(119):53,61,134,150,155,158
Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your will.
I am seized with indignation at the wicked
who forsake your law.
Though the nets of the wicked ensnared me
I remembered your law.
Redeem me from man’s oppression
and I will keep your precepts.
Those who harm me unjustly draw near;
they are far from your law.
Salvation is far from the wicked
who are heedless of your statutes.
I look at the faithless with disgust;
they ignore your promise.
Gospel Luke 18:35-43
‘Son of David, have pity on me’
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 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 for what had happened.
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Let me see again!
In today’s passage, the blind man, upon knowing that it was Jesus who was passing by, started to shout with all his might, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me”. Even though he was blind, this man had the eyes of faith to perceive that Jesus could give him what he truly needed. Jesus stopped and asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?”. The man did not ask for wealth so that he could stop being a beggar. Instead, he simply said, “Let me see again”.
Today, let us allow Jesus to ask us this same question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Do we know what our deepest desire is? We have many wants – from a new car, the latest handphone, a better job, a bigger promotion, etc. Jesus asks us to express our deepest needs, not our greatest wants, to Him. In this time of prayer, let us talk to Jesus and tell Him what we need in our lives now so that we can live life to the fullest.
Reflective question:
What do I truly need? (e.g. need for peace, patience or strength to do God’s will)
What do I truly need? (e.g. need for peace, patience or strength to do God’s will)
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
