Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – 33rd Week in Ordinary time – Monday – Luke 18:35-43

On the way to His Passion, Christ taught, prophesied about His death and resurrection and miraculously healed those with incurable illnesses. In a tour de force of miraculous healing, Christ healed a crippled women (skeletal), a man with dropsy (circulatory),10 lepers (skin); Near Jericho, He now miraculously gives a blind man sight.

The long suffering blind man who begs to survive, desperately attempts to find out why the great throngs of people are going by. Evidentially, the blind man knows of Jesus and perhaps has even waited for Him; the man cries out with some familiarity, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The blind man knows who Jesus is, that Jesus can miraculously heal and He is perhaps the Messiah (Son of David).  The crowd, enamored and annoyed, tells the man to shut-up; ironically, the man is crying out for mercy and the crowd shows none. The blind man, spiritually moved by the presence of God, shouts louder with a “blind faith” in Christ.

In a rebuke and a lesson in mercy to the crowd, Christ stops and commands the crowd to bring the blind man forward. While He knows what the man wants, Christ asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man demonstrates complete faith; addresses Christ as “Lord”, believes in Christ has miraculous healing power and respectfully requests Christ to heal him. With simply a word, Christ restores the man’s sight and tells the man he is not only physically healed but spiritually healed (the word used for “heal” can also be rendered “saved”). Realizing he has been both healed and saved, the man glorifies God and follows Christ. The man’s miraculous healing and his faith and gratitude to God stirs the previously unmerciful crowd to give praise to God.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of David, Christ recognized by many as the long awaited Messiah. Divine Physician, Christ has the ability to heal those with devastating disabilities. Divine Mercy, Christ reaches out to those who come to Him in faith in their suffering. Divine Teacher, Christ uses miraculous healings to teach men about faith and mercy.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Despite the residue blessing of living in a still largely Christian culture, the poor and suffering are often passed by, overlooked, exploited for political gain or enfeebled with dependency. Reflect upon Christ’s Divine Mercy and the priority He places on helping strangers.

2) A Catholic man who lacks concrete acts of mercy is not imitating Christ. Review the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy (CCC 2447) and pray for Christ to give you the faith and fortitude to make a substantial difference in the lives of the poor and suffering.

3) Every man has a personal appointment with pain; if you are currently “o.k.”, realize discouragement, disability, difficulties and death are in your future. Christ is always waiting to respond to humble faith with the question: “What do you want Me to do for you?” Commit to pray each day to grow in faith an relationship with Christ Jesus.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Souls in Purgatory

Virtue of the Day – Prudence

Corporal Work of Mercy – To give drink to the thirsty

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To instruct the ignorant