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“Christ Healing the Blind”
by El Greco, 1570-75 |
Readings for Monday of the
Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time [1]
Readings from the Jerusalem
Bible [2]
Readings and Commentary: [3]
Reading 1: 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
[From the descendants of
Alexander’s officers]
there sprang a sinful offshoot,
Antiochus Epiphanes,
son of King Antiochus, once a
hostage at Rome.
He became king in the year
one hundred and thirty‑seven
of the kingdom of the Greeks.
In those days there appeared
in Israel
men who were breakers of the
law,
and they seduced many people,
saying:
“Let us go and make an
alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them,
many evils have come upon us.”
The proposal was agreeable;
some from among the people
promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to
introduce the way of living
of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a
gymnasium in Jerusalem
according to the Gentile
custom.
They covered over the mark of
their circumcision
and abandoned the holy
covenant;
they allied themselves with
the Gentiles
and sold themselves to
wrongdoing.
Then the king wrote to his
whole kingdom that all should be one people,
each abandoning his
particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to
the command of the king,
and many children of Israel
were in favor of his religion;
they sacrificed to idols and
profaned the sabbath.
On the fifteenth day of the
month Chislev,
in the year one hundred and
forty-five,
the king erected the horrible
abomination
upon the altar of burnt
offerings
and in the surrounding cities
of Judah they built pagan altars.
They also burned incense at
the doors of the houses and in the streets.
Any scrolls of the law which
they found they tore up and burnt.
Whoever was found with a
scroll of the covenant,
and whoever observed the law,
was condemned to death by
royal decree.
But many in Israel were
determined
and resolved in their hearts
not to eat anything unclean;
they preferred to die rather
than to be defiled with unclean food
or to profane the holy
covenant; and they did die.
Terrible affliction was upon
Israel.
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Commentary on 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57,
62-63
This reading from
the First Book of Maccabees describes the introduction of Hellenistic
traditions into Israel, the attempt to suppress Hebrew tradition, desecration
of the temple with idols, and persecution of those who attempt to retain their
faith and traditions. The verses selected omit some of the classic Hebrew
poetry included in this book. The final verses are actually part of a hymn of
praise for those who resist the attempt by the Seleucid kings to eliminate
Mosaic Law.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your
commands.
Indignation seizes me because
of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord,
and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the
wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not
forgotten.
R. Give me life, O Lord,
and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression
of men,
that I may keep your
precepts.
R. Give me life, O Lord,
and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious
persecutors
who are far from your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord,
and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is
salvation,
because they seek not your
statutes.
R. Give me life, O Lord,
and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with
loathing,
because they kept not to your
promise.
R. Give me life, O Lord,
and I will do your commands.
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Commentary on Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155,
158
David’s lament in
Psalm 119 speaks of attempts by the Gentiles to force him to become apostate
and recant his faith in the Law. He reiterates his faith in song, and calls
upon God for help. Those held in greatest contempt are not the Gentiles, but
the Hebrews who turn away from the Law of Moses, violating the covenant.
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Gospel: Luke 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.
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Commentary on Lk 18:35-43
This passage from St. Luke’s Gospel takes place as Jesus is
returning to Jerusalem for the last time. The blind man, whom he cures,
addresses him as “Son of David,” a clear reference to Christ’s role as
Messiah. Understanding his faith, the Lord announces: “Have sight; your
faith has saved you.” The message is that those who recognize Jesus as the
Messiah are saved. As a further testament to the identity of Jesus as Messiah,
we are told the witnesses to this healing event recognized the action as a work
of God's mercy, not the work of a man: "all the people gave praise to
God."
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Reflection:
Did anyone notice the way the
last line in the Gospel was phrased? “When they saw this, all the people gave
praise to God.” Let’s think about
this incident and picture what took place.
There was a blind man sitting at the roadside begging. Someone tells him that Jesus is coming down
the road. The first thing we notice is
that the blind man knew more than “Jesus
of Nazareth” was coming down the road.
We know this because of the way he was addressed.
The blind man did not simply
call out: “Jesus help me!” If it were
simply someone famous coming down the road, the blind man would have begged for
alms: “Alms for the blind” he might have called. But he called: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” This was not a simple designation that he
knew Jesus was Jewish. That call would
have been: “Jesus son of Abraham.” No,
this blind man knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Anointed One from the house
and line of David.
The call stops Jesus in his
tracks. He must be very tense, knowing
that he is heading to Jerusalem for the final time to demonstrate the truth of
what this blind man has just announced.
And that call: “Jesus, Son of
David, have pity on me,” would not have been lost on the crowd around
him. So when Jesus said to the man: “Have sight, your
faith has saved you,” the crowd did not see Jesus as the one who had
restored the man’s sight but rather God: “all the people gave praise to God.”
There were no shouts of praise for Jesus who was God’s instrument. He had communicated to them clearly that it
was the Father who restored the blind man.
The story, of course, is a
great message for us. As we attempt to
use God’s gifts to do the Lord’s will in the world, it must be God’s glory we
seek, not our own. It would be like
taking credit for inventing and building the car you drove. No, our task is first to seek God’s greater
glory, and in doing so we receive his grace and the blessings of eternal life.
Pax
[1]
The picture is “Christ Healing the Blind” by El Greco, 1570-75.
[2]
S.S. Commemoratio[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible,
with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the
International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is
not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
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