1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-64 / Luke 18:35-43
Between an advantage and a disadvantage, between something to gain and something to lose, the choice is obvious.
We would go for the advantage and for something to gain.
It does not make sense to choose a disadvantage and to be a loser and a laughing stock.
In the 1st reading, it was not a laughing matter when given the choice of the king's decree or to remain faithful and to stand firm in the faith.
It was a matter of life and death, and the choice had to be made and there could be no compromise.
In the gospel, the blind man was scolded and told to keep quiet when he called out to Jesus to have pity on him.
But he persisted and even shouted all the louder and caught the attention of Jesus.
In life, we will have to make choices and often those choices are difficult ones.
But let us make the choice with faith, and even if that may seem like a disadvantage and make us look like losers, let us persist like that blind man did in the gospel.
And like Jesus said, our faith will save us.