Daily Gospel Reflection for November 16, 2015

Today's Gospel: Luke 18:35-43

Optional Memorial of Saint Margaret of Scotland

Optional Memorial of Saint Gertrude, Virgin

I was struck in today's Gospel by the location: Jericho. Remember Jericho? The Israelites crossed into the Promised Land, circled the city with the Ark of the Covenant, and the walls came tumbling down.

Now our Lord is about to do another miracle. The blind man hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, so he begins shouting out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

And everyone says, Shut up. Quit bothering us. What a faithless crowd! You'd think that they'd realize here's a man who needs to be healed, and they'd lead him to the front of the line.

But the man doesn't give up, any more than the nation of Israel gave up after their first few tours around the city walls.

Jesus calls the man, and I like what happens next: Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”

As if it weren't obvious. But then again, no one else in the crowd thought it was obvious. Jesus must have known what the man wanted, because He was God; the man likewise knew. But these others needed to hear it, didn't they?

The man asks to see. Jesus says, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” Three things follow:
1. The man receives his sight.
2. The man follows Jesus, giving glory to God.
3. All the people who saw it – those same people who were telling the man to quit making such a disturbance – also begin praising God.

There's almost a formula to it: Faith + Desperation => Evangelization.

God uses our weaknesses not only for our own salvation, but to bring others closer to Him, doesn't He?

Ponder:

Have I heard, lately, that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by? What is it I need from Him this week? What will I ask Him for, when He says to me in the Holy Mass, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

Pray:

Lord, sometimes I feel like the “before” situation of the blind man. I'm stuck, I'm lost, I'm desperate, and I can't see my way out of my situation. People around me are telling me to shut up and put up. Help me! Can You come to me today, and give me what I need? I want to follow You and praise You. Help me to be able to do that. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Jennifer Fitz