Quinquagesima Sunday The Gospel Luc. 18 v.31. Friday Meditation


GOSPEL (Luke 18:31-43) 
At that time, Jesus took unto him the twelve and said to them: "Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man. For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles and shall be mocked and scourged and spit upon. And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death. And the third day he shall rise again." And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them: and they understood not the things that were said. Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging. And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: "Son of David, have mercy on me." And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him, Saying; "What wilt thou that I do to thee?" But he said: "Lord, that I may see." And Jesus said to him: "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole." And immediately he saw and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Consideration For Friday

As Jesus went to Jerusalem, approaching near to Jericho, a blind man being in the highway a begging, and hearing a multitude of people pass by, asked who t was: they answered, Jesus of Nazareth; he cried out aloud, Jesus the son of David, have mercy upon me, Jesus caused him to be brought unto him, and asked him saying, what wilt thou I do unto thee? he answered, Lord that I may see.

Christ said unto him, look up: thy faith hath made thee whole, & presently he was restored to his sight, & went after Christ magnifying God.

This blind man signifieth a sinner, who doubtless, if he were not stark blind, believing as he doth, that it were the greatest folly in the world (as is aforesaid) nor no folly like it, to loose his soul to gain all the world: and yet will give it so little a trifle, as will make a mortal sin, which may be a very small matter sometimes; imitating that most foolish man Esau, the scoff of the world, who sold his inheritance for a mess of pottage; If he were not stark blind, I say, he would never do it.

Could they have made Sampson, draw about a mill like a beast, but that they first pulled out his eyes? yea a crow, or raven, by the instinct of nature first picketh out the eyes of a weak sheep, or lamb, before he dare adventure to devour him

Therefore let them that know themselves subject t his blindness of sin, as all of us are, without the grace of God, but some more then others; let them, I say beware they be in the highway where Jesus passeth by.

Let them keep themselves in the Catholic Church, which is the highway to salivation, where many occasions may be, of preaching, of prayer, of fasting, of Sacraments, and of good company, whereby they may be cured of their blindness.

This is the way where our Lord doeth pass & especially in the sacrifice of the Mass, where Christ passeth by every day, there may we see Christ, when the priest lifteth up the sacred host, calling us to penance, & stretching his arms abroad to embrace us: & then let us cry our unto him to illuminate our blindness

Oh whom would not this spectacle convert from his sins if attended well thereunto; and being converted, lett us follow Christ in keeping his commandments, & magnify him, as thus blind man did.

To see, is the best petition we can make to almighty God.

This did the Prophet David desire earnestly in many of his Psalms, but especially in one where he cryeth unto God thus: Illuminate O Lord, mine eyes, that I never sleep in death, that my enemy never say, I have prevailed against him; that us to say, that I v=fall not into deadly sin through drowsy negligence and blindness of heart. that shutteth mens eyes as if they were asleep; or if I do fall into sin, that thou wilt open and illuminate my eyes again to see my fault and do penance for it, and especially at my death, that my enemy may not have to say of me, I have prevailed, against him forever.

For this (saieth the same Prophet in another Psalm) let every holy man pray unto God in opportune time, that is to say, while he is well and in health, least that in the flood of many waters, that is to say, of sickness, and death, they, to wit; the evil spirits, which are then most busy, may not come near him.

And if anything hinder us, or seem to rebuke us (as the disciples did this blind man) Let us cry so much the more unto God as this blind man did.

A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634  


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