18-11-24 Jangan Biarkan Yesus Berlalu: Kisah yang Mengubah Hidup di Tepi Jalan Yerikho

Monday 33rd week in ordinary time "Lk 18:35-43" As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" This blind man was probably there every day. But that day something caught his attention: a stir in the air, the sound of a chattering crowd approaching. Accustomed to the usual daily movements of pedestrians, he knew something different was afoot and he asked what was going on. There and then he was told that Jesus was passing by. And he didn't need any further explanations. He wasn't going to miss the opportunity of his life. And he didn't miss it. St Augustine once wrote, "Timeo Iesum transeuntem et non revertentem" ['I fear Jesus will pass by and will not come back'.] Jesus has planned from all eternity to encounter each person one day so that they may find Him, but not everyone is ready: some people see Jesus and don't recognise Him. There is a story of a woman who found a letter in her letter box signed by Jesus, saying, "Tomorrow I will visit you." The woman went to buy groceries for a special meal for Jesus and herself, and prepared everything for the next day. As she was waiting, someone knocked at the door. She opened it and was disappointed to find a beggar standing there asking for something to eat. She said that she was waiting for someone else and was ready to dismiss him when it occurred to her to give him her part of the dinner. She kept Jesus' portion and gave him her own. It was getting late when someone knocked at the door again. She opened it expecting to see Jesus but it was a lady with a baby asking for food. After hesitating for a moment and thinking that it was now too late for Jesus to come, she gave the lady and her baby the rest of the dinner. The following morning another note was in her letter box. Signed by Jesus, it read, "Thank you for the dinner yesterday; everything was delicious!" Mary, Mother of God, don't allow me to let Jesus pass by without stopping Him and inviting Him into my life.