Homily For Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 20th November, 2023

Readings: 1Macc. 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Ps.119; Luke:18:35-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

KNOWING YOUR NEEDS AND HOW TO PRESENT THEM TO GOD

 

The compassionate love of Jesus in its 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 in trying to overcome these suffering though caused by our sins and disobedience to God’s command as we heard in our first reading today where the king proclaimed his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar, and any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death. But God never abandoned his people, for those who hoped in him were protected.

 

Dear friends, what is the one thing you really need in your life? Have we ever felt helpless? Do we feel the need for 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 see them?

 

Therefore, like Jesus, each one of us is called to reach out to people around us who are really in need of our assistance. This includes our family members, our neighbours, our colleagues and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that you may be the only person who can bring 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, and I wish you God’s favour and blessings.