JESUS, LIGHT OF OUR EYES
Introduction
From today until the end of the Church year we read from the book of Revelation, an apocalyptic writing. The author wants to express trust in God and the future, for ultimately God will win the struggle between good and evil, involving not only the earth but also having heaven intervening. He does not know how, and to a large extent he is guessing, using traditional apocalyptic images, many inspired by religious experiences of God’s people in the past and trying to apply them to the present but even to the future. But underlying all this, even when describing calamities, is the firm faith and hope that God will win and that therefore there is no reason to be afraid.
After Jesus had scolded the apostles for their lack of understanding and faith, Luke shows him curing the blind man. Is it perhaps to teach the apostles a lesson and showing them that they need to be healed from their blindness by faith? In any case, Jesus becomes light and gives light to the blind man. We ask our Lord to give us eyes of faith.
Opening Prayer
God, almighty Father,
each of us too could say:
Let me see again, for I am blind to the love
that you show me in the people around me.
Let me see again,
for I am blind to your goodness and beauty
that you reveal to me in your creation
and in the events of life.
May we too hear from the lips of your Son:
your faith has saved you.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading – REVELATION 1:1-4; 2:1-5
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne. I heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this: “‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: “I know your works, your labour, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”‘”
Responsorial PSALM 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
R. (Rev. 2:17) Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night. R.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers. R.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes. R.
Alleluia JOHN 8:12
Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LUKE 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.
Commentary
Fire of First Love
‘Of Gods and Men’ is a Grand Prix winning French movie that narrates the true story of the murder of seven French Trappist monks (now beatified) in Algeria in 1996. In one charming scene, a village girl asks Brother Luke if he was ever in love. Luke responds: “Yes, several times… And then I met another love even greater, and I answered that love.” With a little pause he adds: “It has been a while now, over sixty years.” We can all relate to that in our love of God. Think of the time when you first fell in love with God. For some, it was all of a sudden; for others, a gradual awakening of love. But now, years, even decades, have passed. How has that fire been? “You have lost your first love,” so the Lord complaints against the Church in Ephesus. How about us? Has the fire faded out in the everyday struggles and boredom of our life? What can we do to recover that first love?
Intercessions
– Lord, see the eyes of children that are open to life; see the eyes full of hope of those who believe in your future; fill them with your light, we pray:
– Lord, see the eyes full of hatred or spite of those who are frustrated; see the joy in the eyes of those who know how to love, we pray:
– Lord, see the eyes of those who suffer; see the eyes of those who are shut to others, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God, almighty Father,
through this bread and wine
we ask you to give us
the light of our lives, your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him, the Son of David,
have pity on us,
that we may praise you
for the saving goodness which you show us
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, in this Eucharist
you have let us experience your goodness
through Jesus’ saving presence.
Do not allow us to hide his light
or to darken the lives of our neighbour.
Make us clear-eyed and let us be lights
for those without insight or hope,
by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
When we are at times blind to what God asks of us, we too cry out: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us. Let me see again.” And may he answer us, “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.” May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!