Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Imagine, just for a few moments, Jesus standing before you. Imagine him gazing at you, looking directly into your eyes and asking, "What do you want me to do for you?" This is just one of the striking questions we can reflect on while reading the Scriptures today.
The Gospel reading (Luke 18:35-43) is the story of the healing of the blind beggar. In Luke's version, the beggar at the side of the road makes quite a ruckus in trying to get Jesus' attention as he is walking by. Despite intense scolding and rebukes from the people, the beggar persists, even more boldly, in his calls to Jesus. At the command of Jesus, he is brought near, and Jesus simply asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" To answer this question requires humility and faith and trust; sometimes we only come to Jesus when our self-reliance finally fails. It seems so simple but can be very hard to do. If we believe that Jesus redeems and heals—and we, of ourselves can do neither of these things on our own—why do we hesitate or fail to ask Jesus to do these things for us? Is it a lack of faith? Lack of humility? Is it defiance or self-sufficiency? Ponder the fact that, when we do not bring our needs and desires to Jesus, we reject participating in the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ on the Cross.
We must persist just as the blind man persisted. We must labor just as Jesus labored. We must give up doing our will just as Jesus gave up his will on the cross. We must believe that, in the depths of our hearts, whatever our wants or needs, they are better off in God’s hands than our own. This day, let us imagine ourselves in front of Jesus, him saying, "What do you want me to do for you?" May we choose to participate in the redemption Jesus fulfilled on the Cross by surrendering, letting go, and being straightforward with Jesus. Just tell Jesus what he can do for you.
- Gail Lyman