Eighth Week of Ordinary Time
30th May 2024 (Thursday)
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12
Beloved: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5 (R. 2b)
R/. Come before him, singing for joy.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. . I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : Mark 10:46-52
At that time: As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Thursday – Eighth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines:God is within us and amidst us, He is before us and beyond us. He remains hidden and invisible but His power and love are made manifest in numberless ways. Blessed is he who is able to see!
1. Blindness is a great loss. Only one who is blind can really know how terrible it is. It is true that many of us feel so much pity for the blind people. We feel sad that they are missing so much, that they miss the colours, the beauty of life and people. We may also wonder how they can accept such deprivation and live happily.
2. Such human emotion is good toward others. But do we realize and appreciate how blessed we are to have sight, to be able to see? Do we also act responsibly on what we see? Do we have a sense of discretion regarding what to see and what not to see?
3. Jesus in the gospel heals a blind man by the name Bartimaeus. This blind man can teach us simple but useful lessons for our life. His blindness reduces him to a beggary, sitting by the roadside. He hears of Jesus’ coming. He does not want to miss the chance of healing.
4. He cries out pleading with Jesus to have mercy on him. The rebuke of the annoyed people to keep quiet does not silence his voice nor quieten his desire for healing. He persists all the more in his cry for help. His perseverance catches the attention of the Master and wins his mercy. He is called by Jesus.
5. When told that he was called by the Master, we can note some notable actions on his part. He throws off his mantle. He springs up. He comes to Jesus. Already the very call by the Lord itself ensures him the recovery of his sight. He no longer feels the need of his mantle. He needs no more to sit, stuck to the ground.
6. That is why he springs up and moves to Jesus. Here too, at the encounter with Jesus, he is quite clear about what he needs. Asked by Jesus, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he is prompt to answer, “Master, let me receive my sight”.
7. His faith is rewarded. Jesus heals him saying “Your faith has made you well. Go your way”. He is no longer blind. He is able to see, able to see and walk the way. His sight is not only physical. His sight is whole and holistic. He is able to see the Lord. That is why, instead of going his way, he follows Jesus on his way.
Practice: Much more than the exterior, physical sight, today we are invited to shift our attention to our interior sight. To be empathetic toward the blind is good, but let us recognize our own blindness toward God and others. Failing in faith is spiritual blindness; failing in fraternal perspective and goodness is fraternal blindness; failing in moral values is moral blindness
