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November 17, 2014

Here is a man who is blind, but nevertheless must have heard about Jesus and the wonderful things he has done for people in town. He must have been wishing to come near him, and he must have been praying for a cure. He is also described as sitting by the road, begging – he must have been abandoned by his family. He hears the crowd passing by and inquired what it is all about. “Jesus of Nazareth is going by” they say. He knows the Lord because spontaneously he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

We too have our own blindness. We are blind many times to our faults and sins, to our weaknesses and limitations. Blind because we cannot accept them, we keep denying or covering them up many times. Let us imitate this blind man in our gospel today. The Lord is passing by. Let’s cry out loud to him and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” In the depths of our hearts let us hear the Lord say ” Your faith has saved you, I love you and I forgive you!”

Yes, the Lord is passing by, but we have to do our part. Often we are beggars, yet we do not consider what we are asking for. We have received many blessings yet these we take for granted as if the Lord ought to give us these, as if we deserve them.

Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 6

<< Monday, November 17, 2014 >>

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5
View Readings

Psalm 1:1-4, 6

Luke 18:35-43
Similar Reflections

"THE NECESSITY OF PRAYING ALWAYS"

"Jesus asked him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' " —Luke 18:40-41

Jesus spoke of "the necessity of praying always and not losing heart" (Lk 18:1). We are to never stop praying (1 Thes 5:17). Many centuries ago, a Christian went on pilgrimage and asked holy person after holy person how it could be possible to pray always. The answer he finally received was what is called the "Jesus prayer." This prayer is a combination of Luke 18:39 and Luke 18:13. The Jesus prayer is: "Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me, a sinner." The prayer is sometimes shortened to "Lord Jesus, mercy" or even to only the name "Jesus." The Christian pilgrim was taught to pray this many times, to pray it almost with every breath to the point that he was thinking of Jesus even when he was not praying it. Thus, he was obeying the Lord's command to pray always.

Be like the Christian pilgrim. Try to learn to pray always. Keep trying no matter how long it takes. Even if others discourage you, cry "out all the more, 'Son of David, have pity on me!' " (Lk 18:39) Because there is the necessity to pray always, there is the necessity to learn to pray always. The Holy Spirit will teach you (Jn 14:26). Pray in the Spirit (see Jude 20). Pray always.

Prayer: Father, by the Holy Spirit, may I not only have a life of prayer but a life of praying always.

Promise: "Happy is the man who reads this prophetic message, and happy are those who hear it and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near!" —Rv 1:3

Praise: St. Elizabeth was canonized just four years after her death, so much did she imitate Christ in life.