Monday of the
Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(I Maccabees 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-63; Luke 18:35-43)
Faith is sometimes said to be another way of seeing. Rather than perceiving color, faith finds spiritual
lights. Faith is aware of a God who
loves humans. It accepts the promise of
resurrection of the body and eternal life.
In the gospel today faith enables the blind man to recognize Jesus as
the “Son of David,” the long-awaited Savior.
This faith would have saved the blind man even if Jesus did not bless him
with physical sight.
Determination characterizes the blind man almost as much as
his faith. When the people rebuke him
for calling out, he does it all the louder.
Because of his insistence, Jesus notices him. It might be asked whether the blind man is more
interested in attracting attention to himself than in being cured. Jesus, however, finds him sincere when he
grants his request.
The blind man immediately follows Jesus. He literally becomes Jesus’ disciple. We can take him as a model disciple. His faith, determination, and sincerity
before the Lord show us how to better follow Jesus.
