The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, May 26, 2005
Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Philip Neri, priest

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Sirach 42:15-25
Psalm 33:2-9
Mark 10:46-52

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." (Mark 10: 47)

A fuller meaning of today's Gospel is gained by considering the requests made of Jesus earlier in this chapter. Before encountering the blind beggar, He met a rich young man who wished to know how to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him first to follow the Commandments to which the youth replied that he had always kept them. Our Lord then tells him that to be perfect in God's eyes he should divest himself of his great riches to benefit the poor and follow Him. At this, the young man became sorrowful and departed from Christ.

The second request came from Christ's disciples, James and John, who reminded Him that they had sacrificed everything to follow Him and in recognition now requested to be given seats of honor when Jesus came into His kingdom. He told them that these were not His to give and left the impression that theirs was a purely selfish request, a payment expected for their work. While the young man sought eternal life but also desired to continue in worldly comforts, prominence and prestige, the disciples wanted to gain the importance and position they lacked in this world.

In contrast, the beggar's request of gaining his sight was granted, for it would transform him into a contributing member of society. It was the beggar's faith and springing into action, his quick response to Jesus' call, that brought about this miracle. God reads our minds and hearts and in His mercy answers those prayers that are not motivated by purely selfish desires.

O Blessed Lord,
teach us self-forgetfulness,
self-sacrifice and self-giving,
all those virtues that reflect Your Presence in this world.
Amen

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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