"Ano ang luyag mo nga himuon ko sa imo?"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 18:35-43)

Lunes (Nobyembre 18)

Sang nagahinampot si Jesus sa Jerico, may isa ka bulag nga nagalingkod sa higad sang dalan nga nagapakilimos.

Sang pagkabati sang bulag nga may madamo nga mga tawo nga nagaagi nagpamangkot sia, “Ano ang nagakatabo?”

Nagsabat sila, “Si Jesus nga taga-Nazaret nagaagi.”

Nagsinggit sia, “Jesus! Kaliwat ni David, kaluoyi ako!”

Ang mga yara sa una nagsaway sa iya kag ginsingganan sia nga maghipos. Sa baylo sini, nagsinggit pa gid sia sing mabaskog, “Kaliwat ni David, kaluoyi ako!”

Gani si Jesus nagdulog kag nagsugo nga ang bulag dalhon sa iya. Sang malapit na sia, si Jesus nagpamangkot sa iya, “Ano ang luyag mo nga himuon ko sa imo?” Nagsabat sia, “Sir, luyag ko nga makakita ako liwat.”

Dayon si Jesus nagsiling sa iya, “Makakita ka na! Ang imo pagtuo nag-ayo sa imo.”

Sa gilayon makakita na sia, kag nag-upod sia kay Jesus, nga nagahimaya sa Dios. Sang pagkakita sang mga tawo sini, nagdayaw sila tanan sa Dios.

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart and mind that I may see and understand the truth and goodness of your word. May I never fail to recognize your presence with me and to call upon your saving grace in my time of need and healing."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Have you ever encountered a special moment of grace, a once in a life-time opportunity you knew you could not pass up? Such a moment came for a blind and destitute man who heard that Jesus was passing by. The Gospel of Mark identifies this man as Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). This blind man was determined to get near the one person who could meet his need. He knew who Jesus was and had heard of his fame for healing, but until now had no means of making contact with the Son of David, a clear reference and title for the Messiah. It took raw courage and persistence for Bartimaeus to get the attention of Jesus over the din of a noisy throng who crowded around Jesus as he made his way out of town. Why was the crowd annoyed with the blind man's persistent shouts? He was disturbing their peace and interrupting their conversation with Jesus. It was common for a rabbi to teach as he walked with others. Jesus was on his way to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and a band of pilgrims followed him. When the crowd tried to silence the blind man he overpowered them with his loud emotional outburst and thus caught the attention of Jesus.

This incident reveals something important about how God interacts with us. The blind man was determined to get Jesus' attention and he was persistent in the face of opposition. Jesus could have ignored or rebuffed him because he was interrupting his talk and disturbing his audience. Jesus showed that acting was more important than talking. This man was in desparate need and Jesus was ready not only to empathize with his suffering but to relieve it as well. A great speaker can command attention and respect, but a man or woman with a helping hand and a big heart is loved more. Jesus commends Bartimaeus for recognizing who he is with the eyes of faith and grants him physical sight as well. Do you recognize your need for God's healing grace and do you seek Jesus out, like Bartimaeus, with persistent faith and trust in his goodness and mercy?

Bartimaeus was not only grateful for the gift of faith and the gift of physical sight, but for the opportunity to now follow Jesus as one of his disciples. Luke tells us us that he immediately followed Jesus and gave glory to God. The crowd also gave praise to God when they saw this double miracle of spiritual and physical vision. Clement of Alexandria, a 4th century church father, comments on this double vision:

Now that he was delivered from his blindness, did he neglect the duty of loving Christ? He certainly did not. It says, “He followed him, offering him glory like to God.” He was set free from double blindness. Not only did he escape from the blindness of the body but also from that of the mind and heart. He would not have glorified him as God, had he not possessed spiritual vision. He became the means of others giving Christ glory, for it says that all the people gave glory to God.(Commentary on Luke, Homily 126) 

Do you give glory to God for giving you the eyes of faith to recognize him as your Lord and Healer?