“What do you want me to do for you?” – Luke 18:41

       God knows what you will ask from Him even before you tell Him. Nonetheless, tell Him.

       As a father to my kids, I almost always know what my son or daughter will ask from me. Still, I want them to tell me. Why? So that we can talk and nourish our relationship. And because more than what I give or what my child receives, the more important thing is our  relationship — the giver and the receiver, the father and the child.

        When you pray and ask God for what you need, your talking to Him is already creating miracles. You recognize Him. You honor Him. You depend on Him. You profess your faith in Him. Whether you receive what you asked for or not, developing your relationship with Him is what matters most.

       Also, you know that when you receive what you asked for, it’s from Him! You asked for it, right? So you become grateful, joyful and humble, knowing that the blessings you have are not the fruit of your hard work but are given by His grace.

       Now, hear Jesus ask you again, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Tell Him. Talk to Him. Now. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflection: What is your topmost need or dream right now? Tell Jesus about it in detail. Expect Him to answer your prayers as you deepen your relationship with Him.

Dear Lord, this is what I want You to do for me today. (Specify what it is.) Thank You for answering my prayer in the best possible way. I love You, Jesus.

St. Margaret of Scotland, pray for us. 

1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64

10 [From the descendants of Alexander’s officers] there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the year one hundred and thirty-seven of the kingdom of the Greeks. 11 In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people, saying: “Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.” 12 The proposal was agreeable; 13 some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles. 14 Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. 15 They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing. 41 Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, 42 each abandoning his particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, 43 and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath. 54 On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king erected the horrible abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. 55 They also burned incense at the doors of houses and in the streets. 56 Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt. 57 Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree. 62 But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; 63 they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. 64 Terrible affliction was upon Israel.

Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158

R: Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

53 Indignation seizes me because of the wicked who forsake your law. (R) 61 Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me, your law I have not forgotten. (R) 134 Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may keep your precepts. (R) 150 I am attacked by malicious persecutors who are far from your law. (R) 155 Far from sinners is salvation, because they seek not your statutes. (R) 158 I beheld the apostates with loathing, because they kept not to your promise. (R)

Jesus will always listen to your problems even if no one else will. This is not to say that we will always get exactly what we want and when we want it from Jesus. But we can be sure that He will understand us. Why doesn’t Jesus simply heal everyone who is sick? Sickness is a normal experience of human life. We have to persevere through difficult experiences and learn from them.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, 36 and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 39 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!” 40 Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” 42 Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” 43 He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

think: Jesus will always listen to your problems even if no one else will.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 27-30

The Gospel today opens with the line, “As Jesus drew near Jericho.” Many times in the Gospels, Jesus is shown as heading towards Jericho. Jericho is one of the most well-known places in the Bible. Biblical scholars tell us that Jericho has the reputation of a city of sin. It was the popular city destroyed when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. Mentioning Jericho is not merely a geographical detail of a story. It conveys a theological lesson worth pondering on.

       Religious leaders in Jesus’ time were not found in places of sin. They were not supposed to associate with sinners, lest they be contaminated and rendered impure. Jesus went and passed through Jericho — that city of sin — many times. He did not go around it. He did not avoid it. Why? Because that is precisely His mission: “I came not to call the righteous but the sinners” (Luke 5:32); “Healthy people do not need a doctor, sick people do” (Mark 2:17).

       This is why the Gospel is really good news. We do not have to hide from God as Adam and Eve did after knowing that they sinned (see Genesis 3:8-10). We do not have to prop ourselves up and make us “presentable” for Him notice us. We do not have to make up stories that will justify us before Him. It is our misery that attracts Jesus to us. Paradoxically, it is our sin that attracts Him towards us. Mercy is attracted by misery.

       The Latin for mercy is misericordia, which means a heart that goes out for misery. God’s love for us sinners spring from within this heart, not from what He finds in us. God loves us because He chooses to do so, because He is misericordia.

       Do you want to return that love? Do you want to give back to that love? Give up your sin; after all, that is the only thing that is really your own. And that is the only thing God really wants from you — that He may redeem it, for everything else in you comes from Him anyway. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: When did you last visited the confessional? Misericordia is waiting for you.

Have mercy on me, God, in Your kindness; and in Your compassion, blot out my offense. Amen.