The cry of the blind man

November 19, 2018 Monday, 33rd Week in Ordinary TimeSt.
Margaret of Scotland / Gertrude1st Reading: Rev 1:1–4; 2:1–5Gospel: 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 infront 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 yoursight, your faith has saved you.” At once the blind man was able tosee, and he followed Jesus, giving praise to God. And all the peoplewho were there also praised God.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Prayer in itself can be discouraging. What more could be said when we couldn’t even pray because people make it impossible for us to do so? It happened to the blind man in today’s Gospel reading. Instead of helping him cry out to Jesus, they sought to silence him. “Be quite,” they warned him. It was not enough that he was blind; they also tried to make him mute. Worse, they even wanted Jesus to play deaf! Despite these formidable obstacles, the blind man persevered. He was cured. God eventually hears the prayer of a person who perseveres.
Some are morally blind and have chosen to remain so because of attachment to sin. In their lucid spiritual moments however they manage to muster remaining strength to rise up and confess their sins. But they find every rising a prelude to a-nother falling. The sooner they are done confessing the quicker they resume the sinning. They are trapped in a never ending cycle of rising and falling – a cycle that stays longer down the trough than up the crest. Most of them give up and wallow in the mud of moral decay for good. If this is our story, let it not end the way Judas’ life ended. He committed suicide out of despe-ration and discouragement. To those who believe in the mercy of God there is always hope for forgiveness. We only need to remember the story of the blind man. Today’s Gospel is an assurance that no matter how dark our alleys havebecome, we can always use any remaining flicker of light available toour conscience. When we allow this flicker to take us to the presenceof the Lord, all we need to do is cry out for mercy. And when even crying out appears impossible, Jesus will do the rest. How consoling to know that no prayer is left unheard! – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM.