Homily For Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 13th, November 2022

 Readings: Rev. 1: 1-4.2:1-5, Ps.1:1-4.6, Luke:18:35-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO YOU HAVE THE FAITH TO TELL THE LORD WHAT EXACTLY  YOU WANT HIM TO DO FOR YOU? 

We have no doubt that the compassionate love of Jesus in it’s historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity which is rooted in our faith in God. Little wonder in today’s Gospel passage, the blind beggar gives us a complete lesson about faith, expressed with total simplicity in front of Christ Jesus. He had faith enough to call out to Jesus as he passed by, even when he was scolded by the people close to him, his need for Jesus was so great that he cried all the louder, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 

Then Jesus asks an unusual question “what do you want me to do for you?” So even though his need was obvious, Jesus wanted him to ask. In the same way today, Jesus is asking us: my child what do you want me to do for you? Why not like this blind beggar tell Jesus you need. Even though he knows your needs, you still need to present them before him. This blind man needed his eyesight restored, so he asked Jesus aloud, “Lord, that I may see!” And Jesus said receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’ 

Here Jesus reveals his compassion towards human sufferings and wants us to imitate him. But the problem is that we have failed to express our faith in God. And oftentimes this is as a result of our lack of faith in God for we have separated ourselves from God just as we heard the revelation in our first reading saying: “I know all about you: how hard you work and how much you put up with. But I have this complaint to make; you have not loved me as you used to in the beginning. Think where you were before you fell; repent, and do as you used to at first, or else, if you will not repent, I shall come to you and take your lamp-stand from its place.”

Dear friends, do you still love God as you did at the beginning of your encounter of him? What is your disposition towards God and the things of God? How deep is your faith in God? What is that one thing you need in your life? Do you have enough faith to express your desire to the Lord? Have we ever felt helpless? Do we feel the need of Jesus’s help in some part of our lives? Why not in faith present it before him who is willing to help us. Also, do we know people who are helpless and need some help? How strong is our compassion towards them? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them. How does he sees them? 

Therefore, like Jesus, each one of us are called to reach out to people around us who are really in need of our assistance. This includes our families members, our neighbours, our colleagues and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that, you may be the only person who can brings the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we present our needs before you today, may we experience once again your compassionate love and grant our hearts desire according to your Holy will, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s another week, wishing you God’s favour and blessings.