St. Augustine of Canterbury, bishop 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Sirach 42:15-25

Now I shall remind you of the works of the Lord

And relate what I have seen. The Lord’s works depend on his word, and creation obeys his will.  The sun shines on everything and the work of the Lord is filled with his glory.

 Not even to his holy ones has the Lord given full knowledge of all his marvelous works.

The Lord, Master of the universe, has ordained that all should stand firm in his glory.  He penetrates both the depth of the abyss and the human heart and knows their secrets. For the Most High has full knowledge and ordains the signs of the heavens.  He knows the past and foretells the future and reveals the traces of the world’s mysteries.

 No thought escapes him, no word is hidden from him.  He has ordered the marvelous works of his wisdom, from ever and for ever. Nothing can be added, nothing can be taken away and he has no need of counsel.  All his works are beautiful, even to the smallest spark of light.  

All this lives and endures forever: all is useful and obedient to his will. All things are in pairs, one opposite the other, and nothing he makes is in any way de­ficient. One thing emphasizes the excellence of the other; who could ever weary of admiring his glory?

 

Ps 33:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 10:46-52

 They came to Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.   On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he began to call out, “Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!”   Many people scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man saying, “Take heart. Get up, he is calling you.”   He immediately threw aside his cloak, jumped up and went to Jesus.

Then Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Master, let me see again!”  And Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” And immediately he could see, and he followed ­Jesus along the road.

    

 Gospel Reflection：

There are people who sometimes are obstacles that are preventing others from achieving what they desire in life. Take for example the crowd in our gospel today. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by, he grasps the chance to be healed. He places his everything in that loud pleading to Jesus.

But the people scolded him. They are a formidable barrier between the blind man and his healing. Luckily Jesus hears him - just as He always hears our pleas. So Jesus asks him what he desires most. He stated it plainly. There is no hesitation. And Jesus decides to heal him. If we never allow the barriers to deter us from our course, we will be triumphant like Bartimaeus in the end.