Monday, November 16, 2026 — Monday of the Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
The blind man of Jericho
Luke 18:35-43
The Gospel
As Jesus draws near to Jericho, he finds a blind man sitting by the roadside, begging. Hearing that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, the man cries out: Son of David, have mercy on me. Though the crowd tells him to be quiet, he cries out all the more. Jesus calls him, asks what he wants, and restores his sight; the man follows him, glorifying God.
Readings of the day: First Reading: Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5; Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6; Alleluia: John 8:12; Gospel: Luke 18:35-43.
Reflection
The blind man cannot see Jesus, but he knows who is passing by, and he cries out: Son of David, have mercy on me. The crowd tells him to be quiet, and he cries out all the more. St. Cyril teaches that faith is able to resist all, and to triumph over all; the checks laid on his confession only kindle his ardour. Jesus stops, calls him near, and asks what he wants. St. Gregory notes what he asks: the blind man seeks from the Lord not gold, but light. He asks for the one thing he truly lacks, and having received it, he follows Jesus, glorifying God. Prayer is like that cry by the roadside. It does not need fine words; it needs persistence and honesty about our need. When distractions and discouragement tell us to be quiet, cry out all the more. The Lord stops for those who call on him in faith, and the sight he gives becomes a following.
From the Fathers
“The blind man seeks from the Lord not gold, but light.”
— St. Gregory the Great, Homily 2 on the Gospels, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 18:35–43
“For faith is able to resist all, and to triumph over all.”
— St. Cyril of Alexandria, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 18:35–43
Saint of the day
Saint Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045–1093), queen and mother of eight, known for her charity toward the poor, whom she fed daily and served with her own hands. Her optional memorial is kept today, together with that of Saint Gertrude the Great.
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Sources: the day’s readings follow the daily lectionary (USCCB, Lectionary 497). The Gospel text is not reproduced here; read it at the link above. Patristic quotes: Catena Aurea on Luke 18:35–43, compiled by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by John Henry Newman (1841, public domain).