Oct. 25th 2009: 30th Sunday in Ordinary time (B) - Jer 31:7-9, Heb 5:1-6, Mk 10:46-52
There is a saying "there are none so blind a those who will not see" or as another put it "blind men cannot see but ignorant men will not see". For the past few weeks Jesus has been travelling with his discples to his destiny in Jerusalem. During this time he's had many followers turn away because what he was saying 'was too hard', Pharissees and scribes confronted him about eating with unclean hands, and as we have noted before he seems to be having trouble even making the Twelve understand his teaching.
Now Mark interrupts the teachings with this account of the healing of the blind Bartimaeus. Here he sits on the roadside begging and hears that Jesus is passing by and immediately began to shout "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." Here is blind Bartimaeus recognizing who this man is when the Pharisees couldn't or wouldn't and his disciples were struggling to fully comprehend just who this 'son of David' is at this point. Mark tells us that many rebuked Bartimaeus and told him be silent. I mean how does this blind beggar dare to even expect someone like Jesus to notice him? But Jesus does...and calls him and he responds to Jesus by saying "Master, I want to see" and is healed. "Go your way; your faith has saved you" His sight is immediately restored.
I have a t-shirt that read FAITH - not seeing is believing and I've come to appreciate its meaning more now as I read about Bartimaeus. You see, Pharisees and scribes were learned men, devout me, yet even their piety could not allow them to see the Christ before them. The Twelve were witnesses to his miracles and authority over sickness, nature and demons and yet they did not see who he was very clearly. Bartimaues sees clearly through the eyes of faith, his spiritual eyes, and as a result his natural eyes were opened.
I have an uncle who had lost nealy all of his vision through glaucoma. He lives in Trinidad. When I visited there a few years ago I had an opportunity to visit him and my aunt. He had just had some surgical procedure done on one eye which apparently restored some measure of vision because as we spoke he would frequently interrupt with joyful shouts of 'look at that!' as a bird flew by or a cat strolled across the fence. That joy was infectious!
And that is what we hear in the first reading "thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations" Why? Because "The LORD has delivered his people,the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north".
But I find so many Christians I meet have little or no joy. Yes I know the economy is tough: I was out of a job for four months myself. I know we have health issues and family issues. I know we all have heavy crosses to bear. But we have little or no joy because we are always focussing on the issues and not on Christ through whom God promised "I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng.They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble." We don't really see the Risen Christ in our midst even though he is present right now in Word, Sacrament and each other. How then, can we feel his consolation?
But maybe, just maybe, today is the day to acknowledge our spritual blindness and say like Bartimaeus "Lord, I want to see" and allow Jesus to respond like he did. Can you imagine Bartimaeus' joy at being able to see? Can you ever imagine my uncle's? Can you dare to imagine what your joy would feel like? Don't let anyone stop you from crying out to Jesus today. Don't remain sitting by the roadside; get up and follow him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Now Mark interrupts the teachings with this account of the healing of the blind Bartimaeus. Here he sits on the roadside begging and hears that Jesus is passing by and immediately began to shout "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." Here is blind Bartimaeus recognizing who this man is when the Pharisees couldn't or wouldn't and his disciples were struggling to fully comprehend just who this 'son of David' is at this point. Mark tells us that many rebuked Bartimaeus and told him be silent. I mean how does this blind beggar dare to even expect someone like Jesus to notice him? But Jesus does...and calls him and he responds to Jesus by saying "Master, I want to see" and is healed. "Go your way; your faith has saved you" His sight is immediately restored.
I have a t-shirt that read FAITH - not seeing is believing and I've come to appreciate its meaning more now as I read about Bartimaeus. You see, Pharisees and scribes were learned men, devout me, yet even their piety could not allow them to see the Christ before them. The Twelve were witnesses to his miracles and authority over sickness, nature and demons and yet they did not see who he was very clearly. Bartimaues sees clearly through the eyes of faith, his spiritual eyes, and as a result his natural eyes were opened.
I have an uncle who had lost nealy all of his vision through glaucoma. He lives in Trinidad. When I visited there a few years ago I had an opportunity to visit him and my aunt. He had just had some surgical procedure done on one eye which apparently restored some measure of vision because as we spoke he would frequently interrupt with joyful shouts of 'look at that!' as a bird flew by or a cat strolled across the fence. That joy was infectious!
And that is what we hear in the first reading "thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations" Why? Because "The LORD has delivered his people,the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north".
But I find so many Christians I meet have little or no joy. Yes I know the economy is tough: I was out of a job for four months myself. I know we have health issues and family issues. I know we all have heavy crosses to bear. But we have little or no joy because we are always focussing on the issues and not on Christ through whom God promised "I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng.They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble." We don't really see the Risen Christ in our midst even though he is present right now in Word, Sacrament and each other. How then, can we feel his consolation?
But maybe, just maybe, today is the day to acknowledge our spritual blindness and say like Bartimaeus "Lord, I want to see" and allow Jesus to respond like he did. Can you imagine Bartimaeus' joy at being able to see? Can you ever imagine my uncle's? Can you dare to imagine what your joy would feel like? Don't let anyone stop you from crying out to Jesus today. Don't remain sitting by the roadside; get up and follow him.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen