Thursday of the Eighth Week

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Sir 42:18ff. God has filled the universe with an infinite variety of life, each part completing and complementing the others.

Mark 10:46ff. Jesus heals Bartimaeus of blindness because of his faith.

Reborn in spirit

Sirach moves from simple things to intricate mysteries, from the beauty of the natural universe to the depths of the human heart where emotions vibrate and reasons may clash. “God plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart, and understands their inmost being…. How beautiful are all his works…. The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved.” Imitating him, our life of faith too should follow the quick spontaneity of the child that reaches towards its mother’s breast for “the pure milk of the spirit.” We should follow these finest impulses of life and taste deeply the goodness of the Lord; and perhaps also study widely and refine our theology, drawing from Scripture and Tradition, joining the impulsiveness of an infant with the studied searching of the adult. Then we will be at peace and protected against evil desires.

First Reading: Sirach 42:15-25

I will now call to mind the works of the Lord,
and will declare what I have seen.By the word of the Lord his works are made;
and all his creatures do his will.
The sun looks down on everything with its light,
and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.
The Lord has not empowered even his holy ones
to recount all his marvelous works,
which the Lord the Almighty has established
so that the universe may stand firm in his glory.
He searches out the abyss and the human heart;
he understands their innermost secrets.

For the Most High knows all that may be known;
he sees from of old the things that are to come.
He discloses what has been and what is to be,
and he reveals the traces of hidden things.
No thought escapes him,
and nothing is hidden from him.
He has set in order the splendors of his wisdom;
he is from all eternity one and the same.Nothing can be added or taken away,
and he needs no one to be his counselor.
How desirable are all his works,
and how sparkling they are to see!
All these things live and remain forever;
each creature is preserved to meet a particular need.
All things come in pairs, one opposite the other,
and he has made nothing incomplete.
Each supplements the virtues of the other.
Who could ever tire of seeing his glory?

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

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