From the responsorial psalm: "Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 18:35-43)

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!”

The blind man in today's Gospel is a model of persistent prayer and expressing it in a way that catches God's attention. It is also a model of evangelization. The blind man shouts and calls out to Jesus to be heard. Although initially rebuking him, on seeing the blind man healed and giving glory to God, the same crowd who rebuked him turn around and give praise to God. The healing that takes place through his faith is a kind of multiplication of the loaves, where shared among others it multiplies many times over. A prerequisite for the blind man's healing is his lack of sight, his desire to see. This speaks to every person who lacks something in faith that love and repentance restore so that we can try again. As the Lord says in the first reading: "you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first." The blind man gains sight; in his faith and miraculous healing, he gives us cause to give praise to God.

God, help me understand today's Gospel in light of the Gospel acclamation: "I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life." Every day, Lord, there is reason to call out to you; I lose sight of you and stumble in the dark, realizing more and more that I am dependent on you for every good gift. In giving all thanks and glory to you for restoring in me the light of your love time after time—in prayer, at Mass, and in the sacraments—help make my faith in you a witness to others and a cause for them to give you praise.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.