Optional Memorial of
the Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
 |
“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: Revelation 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.”’
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Commentary on Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5
The
first part of this passage from Revelation (Revelation 1:1-4) makes it
appear as if this were a normal letter to the churches of Asia. Only the
introduction and salutation reflect this form. The seven churches being
referred to are in the Roman Province of Asia which was western Turkey. The
specific churches being referred to are mentioned in Revelation 1:11: Ephesus,
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Each one of
these gets its own injunction, like the one to Ephesus which is included in
this selection.
Ephesus
is given praise and criticism along with a warning that, if they do not revert
to their previous charismatic love for one another, their “lampstand”
(the symbol of the presence of Christ) will be removed. Important in the
commendation to the Ephesians is their steadfastness, and their ability to
reject false apostles.
CCC: Rv
1:4 1403, 2854; Rv
2-3 401; Rv
2:5 1429
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (Rev. 2:17) 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.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
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.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
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.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
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Commentary on Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
Psalm
1 serves as a preface to the whole book of the psalms. The psalmist here exalts
those who follow the Lord’s commands and reflects upon the blessings they will
receive. As in Romans
6:19ff, this selection emphasizes the contrast between the salvation of
the just and the punishment of the wicked.
This
wisdom psalm begins by extolling the virtue of those who follow the law. The
focus is to look to God for guidance, and not to trust only in the counsel of
men. Those who reject the law will be blown away like “chaff,” an image used in
the Gospel as well (Matthew
3:12).
This
portion of the psalm is later echoed in Isaiah 48:17-19, like an
overlapped formula of covenant. Blessed is the man who “delights in the
law day and night,” but “the way of the wicked vanishes.” It also takes up the
theme of following right paths and staying true to the teachings of God: “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.”
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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.
-------------------------------------------
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."
-------------------------------------------
Reflection:
We are in the next-to-last
week of our liturgical year, and our readings drive us toward our complete
understanding of Jesus’ mission. Revealed in Scripture, he reigns as Messiah on
earth and Lord of Heaven. Even as the
mystical reality of his divinity is pondered by St. John in the Book of
Revelation (the Apocalypse), and the blind man who calls him “Son of David,” his ancient
messianic title, we find practical advice that we must follow as a consequence
of our faith and understanding.
Psalm 1 tells us that the one
who follows God’s law is “blessed.” We pause for a
moment to consider what it means to be “blessed,”
and why we should aspire to achieve that state.
First, we must avoid confusion.
Being named “Blessed” in the
Church, that is, having that title officially recognized, carries much greater
weight since it means that the person so titled has been put forward as a
saint. That person, as a consequence of
their special grace and heroic virtue, has been presumed by the whole Church to
have achieved a special place of favor in the kingdom of heaven.
What we hope to consider in
this short reflection is not that formal title, but rather a personal state
that results from one’s diligence on the path toward God. Think for a moment of a person you believe to
be very much focused on following God’s commandments, and living a life
directed toward the greater glory of God.
The person does not have to be perfect, but just very much concerned
with both the faith and actions prescribed by tradition and Scripture, seeking
to please God in all things.
If we are lucky enough to
know a person who has truly embarked upon such a path, we notice some things
about that person that give us an indication of what a “blessed” life might be like.
First, we notice a sense of peace about them. While they can be intense and seem driven,
underlying that intensity is a peace that comes from complete reliance on
God. When things do not go well, they
seem to take it in stride; the word “unflappable” comes to mind.
The person who has an intense
relationship with God, so necessary be “blessed,”
is also in a state of subdued joy. Some
have called this a spiritual high and it can be addictive. Those who have attained this state in any
sustained way, that rapturous comfort of knowing absolutely that God is with
you and in you, sharing your being, have done so, not because of a single event
(although a single experience may have seemed to be a trigger), but rather
because of a discipline of prayer and actions that are in harmony with the will
of the Father. Once again, this does not
mean the person is perfect (although some of the more spectacular examples of
living this “blessed” life have
seemed to be so) but have achieved that outward appearance of beatific calm
that serves as an example of faith to inspire others.
It is this “blessed” life on earth and euphoric life
in heaven we are invited to share. It is
this kind of faith that cured the blind man on the road to Jericho, and
inspired St. John to envision the kingdom of God. What we must do to achieve this “blessed” life is clear to us. When we conform our attitudes to Christ and
offer our hearts completely and unselfishly to God, we have found the
path. For most of us, this will be a lifelong
pursuit in which we never quite get there.
But imagine the reward of the effort and the gift of success. Today our prayer is that we ceaselessly move
in the right direction, toward that “blessed”
state when God’s will and ours are united, and we become one with him. May God’s grace strengthen us on our journey.
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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