The Feast of St Joseph Pignatelli SJ | Monday 14 November 2022

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Today is Monday the 14th of November, the feast of St Joseph Pignatelli SJ, in the 33rd week of Ordinary time.

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Come Thou Fount’.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise to Thee an altar

Hither by Thy help I'm come

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He, to rescue me from danger

Interposed his precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, O take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart, O take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 18:35-43

As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

The blind man is making a spectacle of himself. He knows his need of God and refuses to be silenced, calling out for help. It takes courage and persistence to make his needs known to Jesus. Do you know what you most stand in need of? What grace or gift would you ask for in the blind man’s place?

Jesus asks the man what he wants. Surely, it’s obvious, but the articulating of our need is important for us. The more we desire, the more we develop the capacity to receive. That is why Jesus says that the man’s faith has saved him. Take time to become aware of your deepest desires and to find the words to present them to God.

As we listen again to the reading, notice what strikes you and why. Are there particular words or feelings that stay with you?

The blind man was very direct in talking to Jesus. Take some time now to talk to him and to listen to what he says to you in return. Where does your faith lead you at this time?

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.