The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today resonate with our blindness to the plans and actions we witness daily that bring death and destruction to our brothers and sisters through the ascendency of war over peace.
The reading from the First Book of Maccabees describes the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes, Renegade Jews and the Installation of Gentile Cults.
* [1:14] Gymnasium: symbol and center of Greek athletic and intellectual life, it was the chief instrument of Hellenistic culture. Jewish youth were attracted by sports and encouraged to join youth clubs. They received training in military skills and in the duties of citizens. Many were won over to paganism, and some even sought surgical correction of their circumcision (since physical exercise was carried out in nudity). (1 Maccabees, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 119 praises the Glories of God’s Law.
* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them. (Psalms, PSALM 119, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar Near Jericho.
* [18:38] Son of David: the blind beggar identifies Jesus with a title that is related to Jesus’ role as Messiah (see note on Lk 2:11). Through this Son of David, salvation comes to the blind man. Note the connection between salvation and house of David mentioned earlier in Zechariah’s canticle (Lk 1:69). See also note on Mt 9:27. (Luke, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Tom Quinn asks how can we separate the terminal phrase of today’s readings, “terrible affliction was upon Israel,” from current events? We can learn from the ancient events and pray to God as the Psalmist does: “redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may keep your precepts.” “Give us life, Lord, and I will do your commands.”
The Gospel sets an example that has helped me to pray today. A blind man seeking a cure from Jesus was rebuked by the crowd surrounding Jesus. The man persisted. Jesus asked him, "what do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “please, let me see.” Jesus told the man, "Have sight, your faith has saved you.” We should not give up on our prayer if we do not experience immediate results. Be sincere; be patient; ask God directly what we want Him to do for us. Have faith that God hears our prayer; we are never alone. (Quinn, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The blind man knows that Jesus is the Son of David and the Messiah,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The blind man must have understood that the sight of the blind cannot be restored by human means but requires, on the contrary, a divine power and an authority such as God only possesses. With God nothing whatsoever is impossible. The blind man came near to him as to the omnipotent God. How then does he call him the Son of David? What can one answer to this? The following is perhaps the explanation. Since he was born and raised in Judaism, of course, the predictions contained in the law and the holy prophets concerning Christ had not escaped his knowledge. He heard them chant that passage in the book of the Psalms, 'The Lord has sworn in truth to David, and will not annul it, saying: "of the fruit of your loins I will set a king upon your throne"' (Psalm 132:11).
"The blind man also knew that the blessed prophet Isaiah said, 'There will spring up a shoot from the root of Jesse, and from his root a flower will grow up' (Isaiah 11:1). Isaiah also said, 'Behold, a virgin will conceive and bring forth a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us' (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). He already believed that the Word, being God, of his own will had submitted to be born in the flesh of the holy Virgin. He now comes near to him as to God and says, 'Have mercy on me, Son of David.' Christ testifies that this was his state of mind in offering his petition. He said to him, 'Your faith has saved you.'"(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 126) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 18:35-43 comments that we believe in Jesus’ love, and we know that we can come to him and ask for help. But do we? Sometimes “the crowd” rebukes us and stops us. Instead of hostile onlookers, though, that “crowd” is often the voices in our own heads—voices that tell us that Jesus may listen to everyone else, but he won’t listen to us. Or that we don’t deserve his help. Or that because we don’t see an answer right away, we should just give up.
Don’t listen to those voices! Keep calling out to Jesus, just as the blind man did! Perhaps you have a friend or relative who has been dealing with a really difficult issue for a long time. It seems hopeless. But don’t stop praying, because a solution might be just around the corner. Or perhaps you face a seemingly impossible situation in your own life. Be insistent and persistent in your prayer.
Jesus hears your prayers. He is asking you today, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41). (Meditation on Luke 18:35-43, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler outlines some of the history that established Antiochus Epiphanes as Emperor over the people of Israel and how the religious customs became hellenized as also described in the books of Wisdom and Sirach. Jesus is addressed as “Son of David” by the blind beggar. Friar Jude reminds us that when someone experiences a manifestation of faith and healing, Jesus refers to the person as being saved.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, understands the teachings of Bonaventure as a call to love all creation.
St. Bonaventure taught that to work up to loving God, start by loving the very humblest and simplest things, and then move up from there. “Let us place our first step in the ascent at the bottom, presenting to ourselves the whole material world as a mirror, through which we may pass over to God, who is the Supreme Craftsman,” he wrote. And further, “The Creator’s supreme power, wisdom and benevolence shine forth in created things.” [1]
Creation—be it planets, plants, or pandas—was not just a warm-up act for the human story or the Bible. The natural world is its own good and sufficient story, if we can only learn to see it with humility and love. That takes contemplative practice, stopping our busy and superficial minds long enough to see the beauty, allow the truth, and protect the inherent goodness of what is—whether it profits or pleases us or not. (Rohr, 2023)
As we continue to suffer from blindness to the lack of beauty, truth, and goodness in the words and actions of narcissistic leadership in our world, we implore the Son of David to open our eyes to leaders who serve with love, mercy, and compassion.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18?
Meditation on Luke 18:35-43. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/11/20/833667/
1 Maccabees, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1maccabees/1?10
Psalms, PSALM 119. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119?
Quinn, T. (2023, November 20). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/112023.html
Rohr, R. (2023, November 20). Building on a First Love — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/building-on-a-first-love/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=nov20
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