SAINT ALBERT THE GREAT, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

Lord, please let me see. 

Here is a story from a reader that relates to today’s Gospel reading (Luke 18:35-43):

“We stood in the hospital room that dreary November day filled with doubt, fear, and discouragement. My handsome, athletic eighteen-year-old nephew had been playing basketball and lacrosse just months earlier; now he lay in his hospital bed after nearly nine months of intensive chemotherapy. He was still handsome, but the ravages of the chemo showed.

“He was at another critical crossroad in his battle with leukemia. To finally get released from the hospital, he would have to gain some weight. But that would require another invasive medical procedure. He was understandably tired and weary. He had clearly ‘hit a wall’ and didn’t want to undergo any more procedures—especially painful ones. But to his credit, he agreed to let us pray with him.

“His mother, another aunt, and I gathered around him and placed our hands gently on his lean shoulders. Then I heard his mom, teary but resolute, pray boldly, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on my son. Help my son; heal my son!’ Her way of praying struck me forcefully in that moment. Like the blind beggar, she called upon Jesus as the Son of David, the long-awaited Messiah, the one who would come and restore God’s people and usher in his kingdom. Then she told Jesus exactly what her son needed at that very point in time. It was like the beggar asking Jesus, ‘Please let me see’ (Luke 18:41).

“A few days later, my nephew found the courage to allow the procedure. He soon gained enough weight to be released from the hospital before Thanksgiving. Over the next few months, he regained his strength, and today he is healthy and cancer free.”

Jesus’ love and care for each one of us is so very personal. Like the blind beggar and like this boy’s mother, Jesus wants to hear from us. Today, imagine Jesus asking you, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Luke 18:41). Then tell him exactly what you need.

“Jesus, Son of David, thank you for caring about my every need.”

1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
Luke 18:35-43