Reflection for Monday November 17 Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious: Luke 18:35-43

Gospel: Luke 18:35-43

As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!”  

Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

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Reflection:

Does it pay to be persistent and to have faith in Jesus?

It always pays to be persistent in any endeavor we pursue, because persistence always carries a reward. How many success stories have been built upon persistence? Perhaps thousands—maybe even millions. These persistent individuals toil quietly, work diligently, and refuse to give up until they achieve their purpose.

The blind man in the Gospel also showed remarkable persistence. He never stopped crying out, “Son of David!” even when people around him tried to silence him. He refused to lose heart. And because he persevered, his persistence eventually caught the attention of Jesus. But it wasn’t just persistence that drew him near to the Lord—it was also his deep and unwavering faith.

Afterwards, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And with childlike trust he replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus then said, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”

But what if the blind man had given up? What if he had allowed discouragement, criticism, or noise to drown out his voice? What if he had doubted his worth or questioned Jesus’ mercy? He would have missed the miracle that changed his life.

In the same way, we, too, are called to remain persistent and to hold on to a powerful faith in Jesus. We may not see any sign of hope at the moment. We may feel unheard or overlooked. Yet Jesus responds in His own perfect time, and His timing is always filled with love, wisdom, and purpose.

So let us keep crying out to Him. Let us persist in prayer. Let us trust His heart even when we cannot see His hand. He hears us more than we know, and He walks with us more than we realize.

Are we willing to persist in our cries to Jesus and will our faith remain strong even when the answers seem delayed? – Marino J. Dasmarinas