November 19th, 2018

Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
497

FIRST READING
RV 1:1-4; 2:1-5

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,
to show his servants what must happen soon.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who gives witness to the word of God
and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message
and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.

John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne.

I heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this:

“‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
“I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
and that you cannot tolerate the wicked;
you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not,
and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name,
and you have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.
Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”

PSALM
PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

Response: 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.

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.

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.

GOSPEL
LK 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Daily Reflection

19th November 2018

We are told that Jesus was approaching Jericho, a very ancient city, located about 8 km west of the River Jordan and about 25 km north-east of Jerusalem. It was the last main stop for Jesus before arriving in Jerusalem. In Mark’s version Jesus is leaving Jericho, but here, Luke has Jesus approaching the city.

The ‘road’ is the Way to Jerusalem on which all of Jesus’ disciples must walk together with him. The title ‘Son of David’ implies Jesus’ role as Messiah-King.

Jesus orders the blind man to be brought to him. Again, it is always through other people that we come to know Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks. He says, “Lord, please let me see.” In a wider sense it is our poor sight that prevents us from knowing Jesus and seeing where he wants us to go.

He became a follower of Jesus and gave glory to God. No longer blind, no longer a beggar, no longer by the road but on the road with Jesus, the Way – to Jerusalem. Every disciple will gradually have his or her eyes opened to understand why Jesus had to suffer and die on his way to glory.