33Rd WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
1st Reading: 1 Mac 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
From their descendants there came a godless offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of king Antiochus, who had been held as hostage in Rome. He became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the Greek era (in the year 175 B.C.).
It was then that some rebels emerged from Israel, who succeeded in winning over many people. They said, “Let us renew contact with the people around us for we had endured many misfortunes since we separated from them.”
This proposal was well-received and some eagerly went to the king. The king authorized them to adopt the customs of the pagan nations. With his permission, they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem in the pagan style. And as they wanted to be like the pagans in everything, they made artificial foreskins for themselves and abandoned the Holy Covenant, sinning as they pleased.
Antiochus issued a decree to his whole kingdom. All the people of his empire had to renounce their particular customs and become one people. All the pagan nations obeyed and respected the king’s decree, and, even in Israel, many accepted the imposed cult. They offered sacrifices to idols and no longer respected the Sabbath.
On the fifteenth day of the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five (in the year 167 B.C.), Antiochus erected the “abominable idol of the invaders” on the altar of the temple. Pagan altars were built throughout the whole land of Judea; incense was offered at the doors of their houses and in the squares. There wicked men tore up the books of the law they found and burned them. They killed anyone they caught in possession of the book of the Covenant and who fulfilled the precepts of the law, as the royal decree had ordered.
But in spite of all this, many Israelites still remained firm and determined not to eat unclean food. They preferred to die rather than to make themselves unclean with those foods (prohibited by the law) that violated the Holy Covenant.
Gospel: Lk 18:35-43
When Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging. As he heard the crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening, and they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. Then he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!“ The people in front of him scolded him. “Be quiet!“ they said, but he cried out all the more, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!“
Jesus stopped, and ordered the blind man to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?“ And the man said, “Lord, that I may see!“ Jesus said, “Receive your sight, your faith has saved you.“ At once the blind man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving praise to God. And all the people who were there also praised God.
REFLECTION:
Admirable is the faith of the people in the first reading, “They remained firm and determined not to eat unclean food. They preferred to die rather than make themselves unclean“ (Mac. 1:62-63). The martyrs of the Church died rather than deny their Christian faith and Jesus. The Church today needs people who have the same conviction, joyfully proclaiming the gospel and joyfully dying for it. Did we ever deny our faith, or preferred to sin because it is the much easier way to pursue our personal desire? How strong is our faith?
Admirable too is the blind man in the gospel reading today. He was scolded by the people. Everyone tried to silence him. But, no one was able to stop him. The more he screamed. He got what he wanted from Jesus. Firm Faith, determination and resolve can conquer great and big challenges.
Most Admirable is Jesus‘ action. He stopped, talked to the blind, and acted on his needs. He restored his sight instantly. Jesus gave so much importance to the blind man, considered by the crowd as nobody. Jesus raised him to be somebody. Truly, God hears the cry of the poor.
Daily Reflection
Daily Gospel ® is a product Claretian Publications, a division of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. (CCFI) which is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines that brings the Word of God to people from all walks of life. CCFI aims to promote integral evangelization and renewed spirituality that is geared towards empowerment and total liberation in response to the needs and challenges of the Church today.
CCFI is a member of Claret Publishing Group, a consortium of the publishing houses of the Claretian Missionaries all over the world: Bangalore, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Chennai, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Lagos, Madrid, Macao, Manila, Owerry, São Paolo, Varsaw , Yaoundé.
Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
Copyright © 2O16
Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman,
1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (63-2) 921-3984
Fax: (6352) 921-7429
Email: ccfi@claretianpublicationscom
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.claretianph.com
