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Gospel Reflection 20061029

There can be no relationship without communication, which is always a two- way street: talking and listening.Communication is the basis for friendship with other people and with God. In relating to God, most of us are used to doing all the talking. Without ever saying so, we act as if God's only role is to be quiet and to listen. That is, of course, an important part of what prayer is all about. But it's not the whole picture. God also has something to say to us which we can't hear until we get quiet and listen.

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The Gentle Mercy of GodOctober 29, 2006
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 10:46-52As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Introductory Prayer:Lord Jesus, thank you so much for allowing me to spend this time with you. Sunday is a special day of prayer. I humbly place myself in your presence, and ask your Blessed Mother to help me be attentive to your inspirations.
Petition:Christ Jesus, you know my weaknesses and faults. Grant me the gift of faith and help me to rise above the problems and temptations that will assail me today.
1. Christ Always Responds in Some Way to Our Petitions. In Jesus’ time, to be blind was to be in a desperate situation. On the one hand, there was not much technology or help for a disabled person and thus he wouldn’t have a job or any means of sustenance. They would have to rely on the generosity of others. On the other hand, according to the Jewish mentality, illnesses and physical disabilities were considered a punishment from God for our sins. Thus, his disciples would ask Christ, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind" (John 9:2)? Who would want to help a sinner? Here we have a person in great need of assistance. In what way am I also in need of God’s assistance? We need God for everything, for as Jesus says, “Without me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
2. “Jesus, Help Me!” Pope Benedict encourages us to look to the merciful heart of the Lord, “In our difficulties, problems and temptations, we must not simply engage in a theoretical reflection -- from whence do they come? -- but must react positively, invoking the Lord, maintaining a living contact with the Lord. Beyond that, we must cry out the name of Jesus, ‘Jesus, help me!’ And we may be sure that he listens to us, as he is near to those who seek him. Let us not be discouraged; rather, let us run with ardor…and we too will reach life, Jesus, the Lord” (Angelus, February 8, 2006).
3. The Gift of Faith. The faith of the blind beggar was what allowed Christ to cure him. Faith is not something that we can earn or acquire through willpower or sheer effort. Faith is a gift. This gift must be sought in humble and constant prayer. We have all received this gift through baptism, but it is a gift that needs to grow. “Lord, increase my faith!”Dialogue with Christ:Thank you, Lord! Like the sight you gave to Bartimaeus, you have blessed me with so many graces and special favors, beginning with the amazing gift of my Catholic faith. You reached out to me so many times, and from the heart I thank you for so much love.
Resolution:I will pray with perseverance and trust for those virtues in which I am most in need, especially for the gift of faith to see Christ acting in my daily life.


REFLECTION:
He threw aside his cloak and came to Jesus
He threw aside his cloak. He threw off his old way of life to follow Jesus. He gathered up his courage and sprang to his feet to go to Jesus. No hesitation, no second thought, no doubt was allowed to hold him back from his Lord. After his sight was restored, he stayed not only to show his gratitude but to enroll himself as one of Christ’s followers, following the one who had given him such a great gift. We have been given gifts much greater than physical sight -- the gifts God gives us in His Church! Because we are Catholics we have the sacraments, the Sacred Scripture, the Pope and the clergy, the commandments of God, and our free will to follow God our Father who sent His Son to his death for us. Are we as eager to do God’s work by spreading the good news of Jesus and the kingdom of God to our neighbors as Bartimaeus was to follow the one who had cured him? Are we as eager to love the poor and care for their needs? How blind are we to the needs of those around us, not only the corporal needs, but the spiritual? How quickly do we spring to fill those needs? We cannot just sit by the side of the road crying out for pity. We must get up and go toward God, letting Him know that we truly value his love and want it wholeheartedly, want it enough to work and struggle for it.

Master, I want to see


Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeOctober 29, 2006
30th Sunday saved as hom30sn
THIRTIETH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29
As we hear the weekly readings we probably have the tendancy to think of them as "ancient history". They don't really apply to me, to the problems that I face each day and each week. In today's gospel Bartimaeus, a blind man, called to Jesus for help. If we were blind we probably wouldn't call for Jesus' help but, rather, would go to a medical specialist for a diagnosis and a possible cure.
Of course, in Jesus' time they didn't have Medicare nor were there w doctors with the expertice of our modern medical society.
However, there are many situations in which we find ourselves and feel there is no real help for us. These situations usually pertain to our spirit ual lives .... and Jesus is the geatest source of help for these problems.
Let's be honest. If I have just committed a sin I may feel guilt. Whether it's a problem with drugs, chastity or any other moral situation. Going to a doctor won't help but the Jesus we heard today can be of help. Throughout His public life He helped many and they were just ordinary people like you and me. He miraculously fed thousands with just a few loaves and a few fish. He raised people from the dead, cured illnesses, brought people back to life.
Some of us may say, "Well, that was 2000 years ago and I'm not sure that those miracles really happened." That could be true but we may have a different type of illness, an illness that pertains to our soul and not only to our body. It's true we may never talk about these problems from the pulpit but when we hear of how Jesus helped the blind man maybe we should preach about it.
I don't thnk anyone would argue with a statement indicating some of our modern day problems can be compared with the problems Jesus solved for those who followed him. Let's not be afraid to mention some. Drugs and alcohol can cause addiction and it can be just as debilitating as being blind. The pregnancy rate among unmarried young women is a problem reported in our newspapers quite often. It not only affects the woman but also her partner. How would Jesus counsel this modern day couple? Would He condemn them and rant and rave about hell and damnation? Well, He didn't do that when he was on earth. As a matter of fact, in many siuations, to paraphrase, He said, "O.K. you made a mistake. It is forgiven. Go and sin no more!' He forgave the people but He made it clear a sin had been committed and it shouldn't happen again. Every time I read the gospel natatives about His love and His forgiveness I think of a very loving Man/God who knew people would run into problems. But I also think of the burden he removed from the individuals by His forgivenss and His love.
I would think there may be some of us here today that are involved in a spiritual problem or face a situation in which the pressure being brought to bear on you have made you make some wrong decisions. If drugs are available in the crowd you associate with I'm sure someone has said, "Go on, try it. You'll feel great!" When that happens you have two choices. You can say, "O.K. I'll do it." However, if you say that you know in your heart you're making a mistake. If it happens to you, take courage from what Jesus said today. He said to us that we can't avoid all of the temptatons we may encounter, just as the blind man couldn't cure himself of his blindness.
When we hear of the miracles that Jesus performed we, the young, middle aged and senior citizens probably say, "Would Jesus really help
me if I were in a situation like that." He is saying to us, "Yes, I will help you!!!! If your friends or others are saying to you,'Everybody's doing it',
I can and will help you." Think about it. It.s difficult top be a teen ager today. Why do others want you go get involved in drugs, sex, dishonesty or any other behavior that's going to possibly ruin your life? It's because they didn't have the courage to say "NO" and now they want you to suffer as they are probably suffering.
You don't need that. Your parents are there, your family is there but most of all Jesus is there for you. Bartimaeus couln't see but he could
talk and he did just that, He asked Jesus to help him, to give back his sight. And what did Jesus do? He said, "Go your way .. your faith has healed you."
Jesus is here, today, for every one of us. If you're young or older, He will hear you. But we have to ask ..... we have to have faith in Him. So I would advise anyone here to think of Bartimeaus. If you are having a problem facing a difficult moral situation and you hav pressure from others to make the wrong decision, jusrt say, "Jesus will you help me?" Some might say, "Oh He doesn't have time for me!" Well, you have nothing to lose and you have everything to gain.
It's easy. Just say, "Jesus will you help me as you helped Bartimeaus."


Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year 2First Reading: Jeremiah 31,7-9Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 125,1-2ab.2cd-3.4-5.6Second Reading: Hebrews 5,1-6Gospel Reading: Mark 10,46-52
Gospel Reading: Mark 10,46-52Jesus heals a beggar named Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus seeks Jesus out and his initiative, which reveals a profound faith-trust in Jesus, is rewarded with an instant cure. Bartimaeus reacts with enthusiasm to this signal favor, and follows Jesus. What seems to be implied here is not only that Bartimaeus received physical sight because of his faith-trust in Jesus, but also the spiritual sight to be able to leave everything and become a follower of Jesus. His initial faith-trust was thus rewarded with a deeper faith-trust, and this deeper faith-trust in turn issued in a concrete manifestation: his joining in the fellowship of Jesus as a disciple.
CommentThe reading from Jeremiah and the response in the psalm emphasize God’s constant concern for his people. Just so, Bartimaeus and his being healed manifests the constant concern Jesus had for those who suffered and who had faith-trust in his power to heal. But this faith-trust does not stop at the level of a physical cure, great as that marvel is. It goes deeper to the level of Bartimaeus’ interior life, and uses his profound faith-trust to give him an even more profound faith-trust. Our faith-trust in Jesus can always be deepened. We should never hesitate, as the reading from Hebrews reminds us, to go to Jesus our eternal High Priest for all of our needs.




Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeOctober 26, 2003
Homily Code: Y-6
Today's readings remind of us of the "joy" that Jesus brings to his people. In the gospel, Bartimaeus, the blind man, kept calling to Jesus but others rebuked him as if to say "Don't bother Jesus. He's too busy to worry about you." The blind man paid no attention, did he? He kept calling for help and, eventually, Jesus cured him.
I think we, too, sometimes convince ourselves that God and His son Jesus won't help us. We are not blind but most of us have problems. Our problems are not great theological dilemmas but just everyday situations. The mortgage payment is due, the tuition for high school and grade school is also due.
The young people here worry about a date for next weekend. You worry about your grades. Maybe there are more serious problems in your life. Possibly your life is being cluttered with drugs or alcohol. You are concerned about your parents learning of the problem.
All of us may be reluctant to call for help. Bartimaeus was not reluctant to ask for help. As a matter of fact his shouts to Jesus were becoming embarrassing to those around him. They scolded him, "Don't bother the Master!"
Well, for all of us who have problems, whether it be worry about finances, behavior, popularity, your health or whatever, why not turn to Jesus and ask Him for help? Shout it out, let Him know! He's asking each of us to turn to Him. Listen to the words of Jeremiah as he speaks to the Israelites thousands of years ago.Behold I will bring my people back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, they shall return as an immense throng.
I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so none shall stumble.That is what Yahweh promised to the Israelites and He delivered. They responded by saying,Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed."Every Sunday we hear that throughout the ages God has worked wonders for His people. And yet, we seldom turn to him for help. I'm in the same situation. I worry about the problems of the parish, how all the projects are ever going to be completed, if we'll have enough money to pay the bills next month. But then I look back over the months and years and the problems were always there but we always solved them.
Our lives are much the same. The problems are different but all of us continue to worry about them. And I would imagine we seldom turn to God for help.
How do we do that? It's very simple but it does require some time. Right now, think of some of the things you worry about. Add them all up and later, when you come to communion, just ask God for help? That's what Bartimeaus did. He kept calling out to Jesus for help. You're probably thinking, "But He doesn't have time for me. He won't help me!" Well, He helped the blind man .... why wouldn't he help each of us?
Jesus the "all knowing, all powerful" God even asks Bartimeaus, "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus knew exactly what the blind man wanted but He asked that Bartimeaus tell Him what was needed.
Some might say, "Well, I prayed one time and nothing happened." Nothing happened? Look around us. We are all so blessed. When we think of the millions of people in some countries in this world who have poverty, disease and little or no freedom, we must stop and think, "We have been given so much." And yet God pleads with us to continue asking Him for help.
So, I ask that when you walk to Communion this morning that you take those few moments and think of 1 or 2 things in your life with which God can help you.
Normally we just walk to the front of the church with no real purpose. But, today, do exactly what Bartimaeus did. Ask your God to help you. It may be a situation in which you find yourself at school, the work place, in your home. It may be that you are in need of assistance in finding a job or solving a particular problem. Take a moment and ask God, specifically, for help in your particular situation. Faith is a wonderful thing. But faith without expression may not be enough.
Jesus asked Bartimeaus, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimeaus answered, "I want to see." And Jesus said, "Go your way; your faith has saved you. " Immediately he received his sight and followed him on his way."That can happen to all of us.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeOctober 26, 2003
Homily Code: AX-2
When I go to the store or the restaurant, I often hear the waiter or salesperson say something like "How can I help you" or "What can I do for you?" If they say it and seem to really want to be helpful, I am generally pleased. Even if the place of business hasn't't got what I need, I like having the person try to put herself or himself at my disposal. It is just a bit flattering - if they mean it.Jesus asked the man "What do you want me to do for you?" The phrasing of that question was a little different. Unlike the situation of the waiter and the diner it isn't't a question about what Jesus could do; he could do whatever it took. It was a question about what the man wanted; from all that Jesus was able to do - which, listening to many stories of Jesus, we have already come to understand is everything -, what is it that this man wants.The blind man answered: "I want to see." It was that simple for Bartimaeus. Not being able to see is an awful plight to be in. Children play blind man's bluff or pin the tail on the donkey to experience (in very brief doses that will go away) the bitter impotent rage of not being able to see. Adults with defective vision suffer a tiny bit of this same suffering. The worst thing that a ballpark crowd can say about an umpire is that he is blind. The man asked for what he figured he needed most in life.Jesus gave Bartimaeus what he asked for. But that was only the obvious gift. He heard in the blind man's request more than he could have imagined; and he gave him more than he had asked for."Your faith has saved you." Every Christian longs to hear Jesus say that. It is true that a blind person also wants to experience the miracle of sight. But the removal of a handicap is only important in this brief life. Being saved is the gift that really lasts into eternal life. Forever.Jesus understood the dual longing that people have: I want things to go right for me in this life. I want my handicap, or my disease, or my poverty, or my loneliness, or my loved ones' sorrow to be remedied. And, oh yes, when I think about it, I also want to have my sin removed and my estrangement from God to be ended.Jesus in the miracle stories often answered both longings and pointed to the even more important fulfillment of both needs.People are without food, they are hungry and have no likelihood of finding a meal. Aware of his power they turn to Jesus who does exercise his power in a way that points to a deeper kind of hunger and points to the more basic nurture and to the satisfaction that lasts.Lepers come to Jesus, wanting to be rid of a disgusting and disfiguring disease that keeps them from being able to live the ordinary community life that all people want to live. They hope that Jesus will give them the gift of the health that will make their bodies and their lives whole. He responds, bringing them to see that he cares about their health, about their social life, and about their participation in the deeper social life lived in communion with God in worship.A widowed mother, a father, two sisters, each grieving over the death of their beloved relatives, turn to Jesus to fix this disaster. Jesus responds by raising the dead to life. But he does something more. The miraculous reprieve from death is given as a foretaste of the even more wonderful gift of real and lasting life that his resurrection will make possible.The miracles stories can easily be misunderstood, and a lot of people seem to misunderstand them:You might think of the miracles as mighty shows of power. He's capable of doing that? He must be someone very important. Well he is. But his power is not the point.You might think of the miracles as indications that Jesus will supernaturally take away natural problems. Whenever we are in need we should turn to him. Well, yes, we should. And he will answer, but not necessarily in the way I want and at the time when I want it. And this taking away of our natural problems is not the point either.These miracle stories show Jesus concerned about the real physical needs that people like you and me have. He is able to do something about them. Sometimes he has indeed done something supernatural about our natural problems. But the stories point beyond these needs to less obvious but much deeper needs.The blind man wanted to see. Jesus focused on the man's faith in seeking out Jesus. He let the metaphorical seeing and being enlightened take center stage. And he gave more than just sight. He enabled the man to walk in the light.The story is concluded for us by an announcement of two things that happened to Bartimaeus. "Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way." Regaining his sight was a blessing for the whole of the rest of his life. But it is connected in the story with the more wonderful thing it enabled him to do: "He followed Jesus on the way."Once in a while I need reminding that the reason I have sight - the reason I have any of the blessings I have in this life - is that I may walk in the way of truth, walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Today's Gospel reading is an opportunity to put those things into perspective.
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary TimeOctober 26, 2003
Homily Code: BB-129
(To see a Spanish translation of this homily, click here.)
Our Gospel Reading tells us that Jesus had just left the city of Jericho accompanied by his disciples. Many other people also followed him. Saint Mark explains what happened when Jesus met a blind man named Bartimaeus. Jericho is not very far from Jerusalem towards which Our Lord was headed. The blind man was sitting by the side of the road, as he usually did, asking for alms. Something made him realize that a large group of people was coming closer to him. Or, maybe, someone told him that Jesus was near. Without thinking twice he began to cry out desperately, “Jesus, have mercy on me.”
When they heard him, many of those who were there scolded him, telling him to stop shouting. But he did not pay attention to them as he continued to cry out. Normally, Bartimaeus, precisely because he was blind, trusted in the counsel of those people who helped him, but on this occasion, he felt that he needed to get Jesus to help him and so, ignoring those around him, he placed all of his hope in the one person that he thought could cure him. And it worked out. Jesus, upon hearing the cries of Bartimaeus, stopped and said, “Bring him to me.”
Even though his blindness usually made him wait for the help of others, when he heard someone say, “Take heart, get up, he is calling you,” Bartimaeus did not wait for anyone to help him. He jumped up and approached Jesus, who asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus answered, asking him for what he most desired, “that I might see.” And the Lord cured him. It was his faith that most impressed the Lord. That is why he said, “Go, your faith has cured you.” This man not only had faith, he was firmly convinced that Christ could cure him.
In his Gospel, Saint Mark explains to us clearly that if we want to overcome our spiritual blindness we have to do as Bartimaeus did when the Lord called him. He immediately jumped up and went to Jesus. Many of us may not suffer physical blindness but there are many who suffered from a blindness that is much worse. It is the blindness of the soul. Because of this they cannot see the light that is Christ. Those who suffer from this blindness should also ask the Lord in the same words that the blind man used in the Gospel, “Jesus, make me see.” Because, just as the physically blind can only see darkness, those whose souls are blind will not be able to see the light that is Christ.
Bartimaeus, who always waited at the side of the road, without hope of recovering his sight, found the road, the way, the truth and the life, he found Jesus and when he felt the Lord’s presence, when he heard the Lord speak, he raised his voice and shouted, so that the Lord could hear him. He did not ask the Lord immediately to cure his blindness, he simply said, “Lord, have mercy on me.” He placed all of his hope in the Master who was passing by and of whom he had heard speak. He had faith in Jesus and in his mercy. He did not have faith because he was cured; he was cured because he had faith. And when Jesus cured Bartimaeus, who had been blind since birth, he recognized that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, he felt great peace of heart and soul and he followed Jesus.
My sisters and brothers, we can also feel that peace in our hearts. Let us not be blind of soul. Let us follow the example of Bartimaeus. Let us go to the Lord with faith and ask him to help us, to have mercy on us, to open our eyes and our hearts so that we can see his splendor and feel his love and his peace.
30th Sunday in Ordinary TimeOctober 29, 2000
Homily Code: E-4
“Master, I want to see.”
Such a simple little prayer; but, said in faith, it released the healing power of Jesus and raised blind Bartimaeus out of a world of darkness into a world of light. I would suggest that, at this critical time in our nation’s history that would be a good prayer to keep ready on our lips.
Who can deny that a kind of spiritual blindness grips our country and threatens our very survival as “one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.” Time and again our Pope and Bishops have exhorted us to become instruments of healing so that the church can lead society out of its culture of death into a culture of life. If that is going to happen, then we each must start by examining our own conscience to honestly admit our part in shaping and sustaining this culture, and seek reconciliation and conversion in our own lives. Surely, Jesus is ready to help us if we just do as Bartimaeus did, turn to him and say, “Master, I want to see”.
I want to see, for example, how the prejudice that blinds me to the goodness of people whose skin color or ethnic origin is different from my own keeps me from embracing them as sisters and brothers who share the fatherhood of God with me.
I want to see how my complacency allows evil to flourish because I just don’t care enough to get involved in standing against it.
I want to see how my preoccupation with accumulating wealth and enjoying a life of ease distracts me from the demands of justice for the poor and marginalized in our society.
The list could go on and on, and we won’t be done with our examination until we ask Jesus to help us see our personal role in the devastating loss of respect for life itself and for the unique dignity of every human being, from the moment of conception until natural death, which is at the center of this culture of death. Only a morally blind person could fail to recognize that abortion and euthanasia are totally opposed to the will of Jesus who reached out so tenderly to heal the sight of a blind beggar. Sadly, all too many Catholics suffer from that moral blindness. Surveys show that Catholic attitudes about life issues all too often mirror the attitudes of society at large. Catholics have abortions, approve of so-called mercy killing, and all too readily vote into positions of civil authority those who approve of giving the protection of the law to such barbaric practices.
None of that is worthy of us who have been baptized into Christ, who come to the Altar again and again to feed on the Body and Blood of Christ, and who are called to be imitators of Christ in this time and place. Can any of us even imagine that Christ would do abortions or approve of a doctor plunging scissors into an almost born baby’s head so as to open a hole large enough to vacuum out the baby’s brain and end its life? Would Christ, who so lovingly healed the sight of a blind beggar, consider it an act of mercy to give a life-ending injection to some old or infirm person? Of course not. Those are the works of Satan, not Christ.
All of that raises two questions to be carefully considered as we soon exercise our right to approach the ballot box to cast our votes in the first general elections of this new millennium. Would Jesus vote for a candidate for public office who approves of legal protection for such things? And, should we? Tough questions that we need to face squarely and honestly. Fortunately, the Church is ready to help us make sound, moral decisions if we but listen to what we have been taught.
Echoing the teachings of Pope John Paul, the Bishops have spoken clearly in order to assist and guide us in exercising our sacred duty as voting citizens of this republic. Even as they recognize that the list of important social issues that confront the voting public is long and diverse, they remind us that not all issues are of equal importance or priority despite the efforts of so many candidates who try to make the public believe they are. Without question, the protection of innocent life comes a head of all other issues. So, the morally responsible citizen must look carefully into the rhetoric and sound bites of candidates who cleverly highlight their concern for many important social issues in order to hide their support for legalized abortion and euthanasia.
As we ponder over the choices that lie before us, it is critical for us to remember our Church’s constant and unwavering teaching that Catholics cannot participate in any way in attacks on innocent human life. We are not free to dissent from such teachings.
When this Jubilee year began last Christmas, Pope John Paul called us to make this a time to open wide the door to Christ. In just a few days many of us will be opening a very special door in order to enter the polling place where we cast our vote., We need to open that door wide enough for Christ to enter with us so that he can be near enough to inspire us to make life giving choices. As we reach for a ballot, we would do well to turn to Christ and say, “Master, I want to see”. I want to see with your eyes because my vision can be so weak, especially when my thirst for economic security blinds me to the demands of justice and I am so greatly tempted to vote my pocketbook rather than my conscience. Please help me to keep my priorities straight.
Jesus is the Lord of life, not death. If enough of us allow his life-giving spirit to guide us in seeking out pro-life candidates and vote those choices, surely after the votes are tallied, we will have taken a giant step toward a culture of life. Then, like the Israelites of old, released by God’s favor from their long period of exile in a pagan land, we can say “The Lord has done great things for us. We are filled with joy”.
30th Sunday in Ordinary TimeOctober 29, 2000
Homily Code: A-7
I DON'T KNOW ANY BLIND PERSONS AND SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE TO BE SIGHT-IMPAIRED. THINK FOR A MOMENT WHAT IT WOULD MUST BE LIKE TO BE TOTALLY UNABLE TO SEE, NOT JUST WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT NIGHT, BUT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. HOW A BLIND PERSON MUST YEARN TO SEE THE FACE OF THEIR SPOUSE, THEIR CHILD. HOW THEY MUST CRAVE TO SEE THE SUN AND THE MOON AND THE STARS. NO WONDER WHEN BARTIMAEUS MET JESUS ON THE ROAD HE CALLED OUT "LORD HAVE PITY ON MY." NO WONDER, WHEN JESUS ASKED WHAT HE WANTED, HE SAID "LORD I WANT TO SEE."
IT STRIKES ME THAT OF ALL THINGS THAT MUST CHARACTERIZE A BLIND PERSON, THE MOST OBVIOUS WOULD BE FAITH. BECAUSE ANYONE WHO IS BLIND DEPENDS ALMOST TOTALLY ON THE WORD OF ANOTHER PERSON FOR WHAT LIES JUST BEYOND THE REACH OF HIS SENSES. WHEN PEOPLE BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT AND JUDGE THAT THEY NEED NO ONE ELSE IN THEIR LIVES, THEN THEY TEND TO LOSE FAITH. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO WESTERN EUROPE DURING THE PERIOD CALLED THE "ENLIGHTENMENT." THAT IS WHAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS TO ADULTS. FAITH IS THE QUALITY WHICH JESUS PRAISES TODAY IN THE PERSON OF BARTIMAEUS. BUT BARTIMAEUS HAD MORE THAN JUST ORDINARY FAITH IN JESUS. HE HAD PERSISTENT FAITH, THE KIND THAT SIMPLY WON'T LET ANY OBSTACLE STAND IN THE WAY. THE DISCIPLES TRIED TO HUSH HIM, TRIED TO SCREEN HIM AWAY FROM JESUS BUT HE KEPT PUSHING FORWARD, DEMANDING TO MEET THE TEACHER.
I HAVE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE TELL ME HOW HARD IT IS TO HAVE FAITH. THEY SAY THAT IF ONLY, LIKE MOSES, I COULD SEE HIM IN A BURNING BUSH, THEN I COULD BELIEVE; IF ONLY I COULD HEAR HIS VOICE AS MOSES DID WHEN GOD PROCLAIMED THE COMMANDMENTS ON MT. SINAI, THEN I COULD BELIEVE. BUT I HAVE SEEN THE FACE OF GOD IN A BUSH BURSTING WITH LEAVES AND FLOWERS WHEN THE DEAD OF WINTER GIVES RISE TO THE PROMISE OF SPRING. I HAVE HEARD THE VOICE OF GOD IN THE CRY OF A CHILD AND IN THE SOARING BEAUTY OF A MUSICAL OVERTURE. HE IS THERE IN OUR PRESENCE JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD BE: "I WILL BE WITH YOU ALL DAYS, EVEN TO THE END."
WHERE IS OUR FAITH? WE HAVE BUILT BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES AND WE SAY "THERE IS OUR FAITH." WE HAVE BUILT WONDERFUL SCHOOLS, AND WE SAY "THERE IS THE FUTURE OF OUR FAITH. THOSE SCHOOLS ARE A SIGN OF OUR FAITH." WE HAVE DONE WELL. THESE ARE SIGNS OF OUR FAITH. BUT IT IS OUR FAITH, NOT THE FAITH OF OUR CHILDREN. WE CANNOT PASS ON BRICKS AND MORTAR TO OUR CHILDREN. WE CAN ONLY PASS ON OUR SIMPLE, SOUND, PERSISTENT PERSONAL FAITH.
THERE IS ROOM TO WONDER: IN THE GOSPEL STORY, WHO WAS REALLY BLIND? THE BEGGAR, OR THE DISCIPLES? CERTAINLY NOT THE BEGGAR, FOR HE SAW SOMETHING IN JESUS THAT THE DISCIPLES COULD NOT SEE. EVEN BEFORE HE WAS CURED, HE SAW CLEARLY THE COMPASSION AND THE MERCY OF JESUS. THE DISCIPLES WERE BLIND BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO SEE THAT COMPASSION IN JESUS. THEY HAD EYES BUT COULD NOT SEE, EARS, BUT COULD NOT HEAR.
ONE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT BARTIMAEUS NOT ONLY HAD FAITH, HE HAD PERSISTENT FAITH. IT WAS SAME KIND OF FAITH THAT THE MAN HAD IN THE GOSPEL WHO KEPT KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF HIS FRIEND IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT UNTIL HE FINALLY MADE THAT SLEEPY PERSON GET UP ADN GIVE HIM BREAD. IT WAS THE KIND THAT THE WIDOW HAD, THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T TAKE NO FROM THE CROOKED JUDGE; AND IT WAS THE SAME KIND FOUND IN THE CANAANITE WOMAN WHOM JESUS ENCOUNTERED IN THE PAGAN TOWN OF TYRE. WHEN HE TOLD HER THAT ONE COULD NOT THROW GOOD FOOD TO THE DOGS, SHE REPLIED THAT EVEN DOGS FEED FROM THE SCRAPS THAT FALL FROM THE MASTER'S TABLE. THE BLINDNESS OF BARTIMAEUS WOULD HAVE CONTINUED FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE HAD NOT TWO PEOPLE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE CROWD CONTROL OF THE DISCIPLES: BARTIMAEUS HIMSELF, AND JESUS. THE CLEAREST VISION OF THAT DAY WAS FOUND IN THESE TWO. IN THE MIDDLE OF A DESERT OF COMPREHENSION, THESE TWO SAW AND UNDERSTOOD ONE ANOTHER. ONE SAW PAIN, AND THE OTHER SAW COMPASSION.

posted by Mike Young @ 6:14 AM