Reading 1 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
[From the descendants of Alexander's officers]
there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,
son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.
He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven
of the kingdom of the Greeks.
In those days there appeared in Israel
men who were breakers of the law,
and they seduced many people, saying:
"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
The proposal was agreeable;
some from among the people promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to introduce the way of living
of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem
according to the Gentile custom.
They covered over the mark of their circumcision
and abandoned the holy covenant;
they allied themselves with the Gentiles
and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
each abandoning his particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;
they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-five,
the king erected the horrible abomination
upon the altar of burnt offerings
and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,
and whoever observed the law,
was condemned to death by royal decree.
But many in Israel were determined
and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food
or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
Terrible affliction was upon Israel.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Gospel Lk 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
Meditation: Luke 18:35-43
“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!” (Luke 18:37)
What faith! As soon as the blind man heard that Jesus was passing by, he called out at the top of his lungs: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” (Luke 18:38). He was not going to let fear or shame make him miss the biggest moment of his life. In fact, when the people told him to be quiet, he shouted even louder: “Son of David, have pity on me!”(18:39). Jesus was so impressed with this man’s faith and persistence that he answered: “Have sight; your faith has saved you” (18:42).
If you had an opportunity to be that close to Jesus as he passed by, wouldn’t you cry out to him as well? The truth is, this is what happens every time you go to Mass! From the moment of consecration on, Jesus is truly present on the altar under the signs of bread and wine. He is there, passing right before your eyes! So go ahead and call out to him — in your heart, of course! Go ahead and ask him to heal you and your loved ones. Don’t let fear or shame hold you back. Just repeat this blind man’s plea, and then trust that he will answer you.
What will Jesus’ response be? He will say the same thing that he said to the blind man: “Your faith has saved you.”
Did you know that the Greek word for “saved” here can also mean “healed”? That’s right. Jesus can bring healing to your life. As you persist in calling out to him at Mass, not only will your faith be built up and your soul saved; your life can be healed as well. The pain of old wounds can be lessened. Anxiety, bitterness, and cynicism can fall away. Even physical ailments may be resolved. So fix your spiritual eyes on Jesus at the altar. Gaze on him as he passes by, and cry out to him. This consistent focus on Jesus can bring you closer to him in this life, and open the door of heaven itself!
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! As I gaze upon you today, pass by me with your healing touch, and save me. I love you, Lord.”
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