DAILY- HOMILY

November 20, 2017 – MONDAY, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Green

1 Mc 1:10- 15, 41 - 43, 54- 57, 62- 63 /Lk 18:35- 43

FROM THE FIRST READING:          1 Mc 1: 41- 43, 62- 63

     Antiochus issued a decree to his whole kingdom. All the peoples of his empire had to renounce their particular customs and become one people. All the pagan nations obeyed and respected the king's decrees. And even in Israel many accepted the imposed cult. They offered sacrifices to idols and no longer respected the Sabbath....

     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. And Israel suffered a very great trial.

GOSPEL READING:           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 it was, 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 scolded him, "Be quiet!" 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, he 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

     In the first reading we see Israelites faithful to their God willing even to give up their lives rather than violate God's Law. Their example of faithfulness teaches us how to value our own faith in the midst of all our difficulties and challenges. As Christians we should know what tenets of our faith are inviolable because they come from God for our own good.

     In the Gospel reading we see Jesus restore the sight of a blind man. We see Jesus' mercy; we see Jesus' concern for the blind beggar on the road. The blind man was persistent in his pleas to Jesus, despite the people trying to quiet him down. The blind man trusted that the miracle-worker Jesus could restore his sight: "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you."

     Let us pray for similar persistence and faith when we pray to God for our needs and the needs of the world.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     SHIRLEY D. GARCIA

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     CHARLES KANG LIM (OCT 17, 1960· NOV20, 1997)

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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