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Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,
to show his servants what must happen soon.
He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
who gives witness to the word of God
and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.
Blessed is the one who reads aloud
and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message
and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.

John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits before his throne.

I heard the Lord saying to me:
“To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this:

“‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand
and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
“I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
and that you cannot tolerate the wicked;
you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not,
and discovered that they are impostors.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name,
and you have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you:
you have lost the love you had at first.
Realize how far you have fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6

R. (Rev. 2:17) Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

Alleluia : John 8:12

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

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.

 Message from the Readings

Today’s readings reveal a powerful invitation:
Remain rooted in Christ, never stop seeking His mercy, and rekindle your first love for Him.
• Faithfulness is more than duty; it is a relationship.
• Spiritual sight begins with recognising our need for Jesus.
• God desires not only our obedience but also our love.
• Persistent faith always finds a hearing before the Lord.
The message is clear:
Do not let familiarity weaken your love for Christ. Return to Him with the same passion, trust, and devotion you had when you first encountered His grace.

 Reflection for the Day

“You have lost the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4)
The Christians in Ephesus were doing many things right.
They worked hard. They defended the truth. They endured difficulties. They remained steadfast.
Yet Jesus saw something deeper.
Their works remained, but their love had cooled.
This warning speaks powerfully to every believer.
It is possible to remain active in faith while slowly drifting from intimacy with Christ.
We may continue:
• attending Mass,
• saying prayers,
• serving in ministry,
• reading Scripture,
yet lose the wonder, gratitude, and joy that once filled our hearts.
Jesus does not condemn the Church. Instead, He lovingly calls them back:
“Remember. Repent. Return.”
The Lord desires not merely our activity but our affection.
“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” (Luke 18:38)
The blind man could not see Jesus, but he recognised Him more clearly than many who could.
Despite being silenced by the crowd, he cried out even louder.
His persistence teaches us something important:
Faith refuses to be discouraged.
Many things try to silence our prayers:
• disappointment,
• setbacks,
• doubt,
• distractions,
• weariness.
Yet the blind man reminds us that every sincere cry reaches the heart of Christ.
When Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”
the man responds simply:
“Lord, please let me see.”
Perhaps this should be our prayer too.
Not only physical sight, but spiritual sight.
Lord, help me see Your presence. Help me see Your will. Help me see where I have drifted from You.
Rooted Like a Tree
Psalm 1 presents the image of a tree planted beside running waters.
The secret of its fruitfulness is not found in its branches but in its roots.
The same is true for us.
A thriving spiritual life depends on remaining rooted in Christ.
When rooted in Him:
• faith remains strong,
• hope remains alive,
• love continues to grow.

 Living This Word Today

Today’s readings invite us to:

1. Return to your first love
   Remember the gratitude and enthusiasm you once had for Christ.
2. Pray with persistence
   Do not allow setbacks or delays to silence your cry to God.
3. Ask for spiritual sight
   Invite Jesus to reveal areas where you need healing, growth, or renewal.
4. Stay rooted in God’s Word
   Spend time with Scripture and allow it to nourish your soul.
   Let today be a day of renewal, perseverance, and deeper love for Christ.

 Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus,
You know my heart better than I know it myself.
When my love grows cold, draw me back to You.
When distractions pull me away, help me remember the joy of Your presence.
Give me the faith of the blind man who never stopped calling upon Your name.
Open my eyes to see Your grace at work in my life and strengthen my desire to follow You more closely.
Plant me firmly beside the living waters of Your Word, that I may bear fruit for Your Kingdom and remain faithful in Your love.
Amen.