8th Week in Ordinary Time
01st June 2023 (Thursday) Readings and Reflection
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Sirach 42:15-25
15 I will now call to mind the works of the Lord, and will declare what I have seen. By the word of the Lord his works are made; and all his creatures do his will. 16 The sun looks down on everything with its light, and the work of the Lord is full of his glory. 17 The Lord has not empowered even his holy ones to recount all his marvelous works, which the Lord the Almighty has established so that the universe may stand firm in his glory. 18 He searches out the abyss and the human heart; he understands their innermost secrets. For the Most High knows all that may be known; he sees from of old the things that are to come. 19 He discloses what has been and what is to be, and he reveals the traces of hidden things. 20 No thought escapes him, and nothing is hidden from him. 21 He has set in order the splendors of his wisdom; he is from all eternity one and the same. Nothing can be added or taken away, and he needs no one to be his counselor. 22 How desirable are all his works, and how sparkling they are to see! 23 All these things live and remain forever; each creature is preserved to meet a particular need. 24 All things come in pairs, one opposite the other, and he has made nothing incomplete. 25 Each supplements the virtues of the other. Who could ever tire of seeing his glory?
Psalm 33:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R/. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
Gospel : Mark 10:46-52
46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: God graces!
Indicative: God’s holiness, power and goodness are boundless. His ways are unfathomable. He never ceases to accompany, strengthen and guide his disciples{alertSuccess}
1. Name is not a mere label. It connotes the individuality and identity of a person. It stands often for one’s belongingness and honour. And that is why at times we hear statements like “Keep up your name”, “Do not disgrace your family’s name”, et cetera. The name denotes something personal and important.
2. We recall that the followers of Jesus are called Christians for the first time in Antioch. Again it is not a mere title of a particular group like many others. It is the identity mark of every adherent to Christ.
3. It testifies to the deepest bond of the follower to his master. It reminds us that it is only from Christ that we derive our identity. If we do not belong to him, we cease to exist in our vocation and mission.
4. The blind man in the gospel has a name, Bartimaeus. Even his father’s name is mentioned as one Timaeus which means ‘honoured’. Apparently, this looks ironic that an honoured man’s son is dishonoured by blindness.
5. This can implicitly indicate that the blind man’s healing is not merely a physically curative act. It is indeed a spiritually transformative act. A series of decisive changes take place: No more blind but fully sighted.
6. He is no more deprived but restored. No more begging but self-reliant. No more dishonoured but dignified. No more sitting by the roadside but standing, walking and following Jesus on the way. No more desperate but full of faith and hope.
Imperative: God mightily graces us in many ways. The greatest testimony of our receiving grace is living with honour{alertSuccess}