Bartimaeus, a Blind Man

                                    30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                

           

Today’s first reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah is about the Lord’s deliverance of his people from slavery. He speaks of an immense crowd finally able to return to their native land.

Behold, I will bring them back

From the land of the north;

I will gather them from the ends of the world,

With the blind and the lame in their midst…

In today’s gospel reading from Mark we can see that the cure of one blind man by Jesus is a fulfillment of the prophecy. Bartimaeus was the blind man’s name. Actually “bar” means “son of” and so the poor beggar is only identified as the son of his father, Timaeus. Bartimaeus is begging at the entrance to Jericho when he hears that Jesus is passing by followed by a large crowd.  He raises his voice and says, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”

We are told that people tried to stop his shouting but he persisted until Jesus stops and calls for him. Immediately, the man jumps up and approaches Jesus who simply asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” His reply is simply, “Master, I want to see.” In a way, we can all put ourselves in the place of Bartimaeus when we approach Jesus. What prayer could we say that would be any better than “Master, I want to see.”

Mark does not bother with any details but only indicates that a few words from Jesus were enough to enable Bartimaeus to see. “Go your way, your faith has saved you.” 

Today, many people like to think of Jesus as a good man and a fine teacher. Despite the accounts of miracles like the one above, they find it hard to see that Jesus is something else. Such was not the case with the people who witnessed these miraculous healings as well as with the early followers of Jesus. In our second reading today, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews calls Jesus a High Priest according to the line of the ancient priest Melchizedek.

The role of the High Priest is to offer gifts and sacrifices for the remission of the sins of his people. He is also to deal patiently with the ignorant and the erring. While High Priests were taken from men to perform their role, Jesus was a unique and special case. He is the Son of God. His followers recalled the words at the Baptism.

You are my son: this day I have begotten you.

Jesus said that it was the faith of Bartimaeus that saved him and allowed him to see. But Bartimaeus could not see until he encountered Jesus on the road to Jericho.

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Reading 1.  Jeremiah 31: 7-9

Reading II. Hebrews 5: 1-6

Gospel. Mark 1Mark 10: 46-52 (Bartimaeus, a blind man)

A Ransom for Many

                                    29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                    

           

All three readings today deal with self-sacrifice, the central element of our Christian faith. The first reading is part of the suffering servant discourse from the book of the Prophet Isaiah. The words have always been applied to the work of Jesus.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,

He shall see his descendants in a long life,

And the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him.

The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that in Jesus we have a priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because He too was tested in every way.

In today’s gospel reading Jesus obviously applies the words of Isaiah to Himself but then also to all who would follow him.

For the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The remark of Jesus had been prompted by a dispute that had broken our among his followers. James and John had asked for special treatment in the Kingdom of God. It was a foolish request and Jesus told them, “you do not know what you are asking.” After all, to share in His glory would mean sharing in all the pain and suffering He was going to endure.

When the other apostles heard of the request of James and John, they became indignant at the two brothers. At that point Jesus calls them all together and tells them that the way of the Gentiles cannot be their way. Their place in the Kingdom of God will not be one of authority but of service.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;

Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.

Whenever we hear the word “Gentile” in scripture we should broaden our horizon beyond biblical times. In those days, anyone not a Jew was called a Gentile by the Jews, who severely limited their contact with foreigners. Not only did Gentiles fail to acknowledge one God, but also their ways and customs were often regarded as unclean. Although Jesus went out of his way to praise and help virtuous Gentiles, he warned his followers to avoid their bad behavior.

You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them,

And their great ones make their authority felt.

The Gentiles are still with us today. Our great ones still make their authority felt. Even though we live in a democracy and our leaders call themselves public servants, they often act like the potentates of old. They constantly give speeches but rarely listen to anyone but their wealthy contributors. They take the best places at banquets or gatherings. During the recent visit of Pope Francis to America, leading politicians usually found their way to the front row even at Mass.

I recently found a wonderful example of true service right in my own parish community. Recently, my wife and I attended a dinner in our own parish to raise funds for “Off the Streets”, a small organization formed a few years ago to help the “homeless” find homes. It was created by a deacon of the Diocese of Bridgeport, and one of the deacons in my parish formed the local chapter.

“Off the Streets” found that families with children make up about 36% of the homeless population. Single men make up 44% while single women make up about 13%. The remaining 7% are unaccompanied minors. Surprisingly, about 44% of the homeless are doing paid work. However, these cannot afford the security deposit on an apartment, or the expenses involved in furnishing the apartment.

“Off the Streets” works to meet this need by providing the security deposit and the basic furnishings for an apartment. The organization relies entirely on volunteers who receive no pay. Its overhead is about $20 per month but so far it has managed to find housing for almost 1000 families and individuals.

In the Acts of the Apostles we find that deacons played a very important role in the very beginning of the church. When the Apostles found it difficult to tend to all the physical needs of their growing community, they appointed deacons to assist in the care of the needy. But over the centuries the diaconate became just a kind of temporary step in the process of ordaining a priest. However, after the Second Vatican Council the Church created the permanent diaconate as a way for the laity to take a more important role.

Today the deacons and volunteers who staff “Off the Streets” are literally following the words of Jesus to be servants of all. *

Reading 1.  Isaiah 53: 10-11

Reading II. Hebrews 4: 14-16

Gospel. Mark 10: 35-45 (a ransom for many)

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* Note In its brief existence, “Off the Streets” has succeeded in providing almost 1000 homeless individuals and families with a place to live. It has a devoted group of volunteers who work year round. In its pamphlet OTS explained how it helps.

*OTS generally pays security deposits and other upfront costs.

*OTS’ process can usually provide a fully furnished apartment in as little as two to fourteen days.

*OTS provides basic household (furniture, bedding, etc.) to help give our clients a fresh start.

*A bus ticket can get a homeless person off the streets when family from out of town are willing to take in the person.

The Off theStreets website provides much more information of what it does and on the ways others can help.

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Get Behind Me, Satan

                                    24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                  

           

In this Sunday’s first reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, the speaker is the famous suffering servant who has always been identified with Jesus.

I gave my back to those who beat me,

My cheeks to those who plucked my beard;

My face I did not shield

From buffets and spitting.

Isaiah’s account of the suffering servant serves as an introduction to today’s gospel. It has always been believed that the evangelist Mark was a protégé of St. Peter who plays a prominent role in today’s account. Mark was not present and it is possible that his account is based on Peter’s remembrance. Walking along to the villages of the area of Caesarea Philippi, our Lord engages in conversation and asks his disciples for some feedback. “Who do people say that I am?”, he asks. They mention some names they have heard but then Jesus asks what they think?

It is Peter who replies, “You are the Christ.” They must have been shocked when Jesus then explains that his mission is to suffer and be killed, and then rise after three days. Peter can’t believe it and rebukes Jesus. Rebuke was a very strong word in those days. It’s like a Marine sergeant dressing down a new recruit. But Jesus rebukes Peter. “Get behind me Satan,” meaning, get out of my way.

Today people like to think of Jesus as a wise and good man who performed many good works. Even non-Christians regard him as one of the greatest men in history. However, he made it clear that that is not what he is. He is the Christ who has come to give his life for the world. Not only that, Jesus insisted that our mission was like his.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

Take up his cross, and follow me.”

What does it mean to take up one’s cross? A few ago, I attended a funeral service in a local Baptist church. The small church was packed for the deceased woman had made many friends in her 58 years. There were traditional hymns and beautiful scripture readings and then the pastor gave a very fine sermon. He noted the woman’s extraordinary life of service to others, and even wondered if her own life had been shortened by her lack of concern for her own well-being.

The pastor then reminded the congregation that despite all of the woman’s good works, it was not those works that had merited her salvation. It is Jesus who saves and it was the woman’s belief in Jesus that saved her. I thought to myself that I am in a Catholic church for the pastor was preaching traditional Catholic doctrine although religious propaganda wars have tended to exaggerate the differences between Catholics and Protestants on the importance of faith and good works.

But who is a believer? At one point in the gospels Jesus said that not everyone who says, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. At another point, he told the story of the man who asked his two sons to work in the family vineyard. One said “yes” but never showed up. The other initially said “no”, but then changed his mind and did the work. Which one was the believer? Isn’t it obvious that it was the one who did the work.

That is the message of today’s second reading from the letter of St. James. No one knew Jesus better than the Apostle James. Scholars identify him with the James who was present at the Lord’s Transfiguration, who became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and then died a martyr’s death. Here is the wisdom of James.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,

If someone says he has faith but does not have works?

Can that faith save him?...

Indeed someone might say,

“You have faith and I have works.”

Demonstrate your faith to me without works,

And I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

The woman commemorated in the Baptist church dedicated her life to the service of others. She demonstrated her faith through her works. How is it possible for billions of people in China to be saved if they have never even heard the name of Jesus? Isn’t it possible today that many people who think they have rejected Jesus are even doing his work and bearing his cross in their daily lives? So, there really is no separation between faith and good works. They are not opposed. Taking up your cross and bearing it is the work of faith. ###

Reading 1.  Isaiah 50: 4c-9a

Reading II. James 2: 14-18

Gospel. Mark 8: 27-35 (Get behind me, Satan)

Ephphatha--Be Opened

                                    23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

                                    

           

The passage in today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah has naturally been taken to point to the work of Jesus. Isaiah foresees the signs of the coming of the Lord.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,The ears of the deaf be cleared;Then will the lame leap like a stag,Then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Of course, we know that Jesus did all of these things. He gave sight to the blind man. He told the paralytic to take up his mat and walk. And, in today’s gospel, we see that he cleared the ears of the deaf man, and enabled him to speak for the first time. In this passage we see Jesus in his role of healer.

What was the occupation of Jesus? We know that people referred to him as the carpenter’s son, and we assume that he learned and practiced the trade of Joseph as a young man. We know that his disciples called him a rabbi or teacher, and no matter what your belief, you would have to admit that Jesus was one of the greatest teachers of all time. Yet, in today’s reading we see him as a healer or physician.

Mark relates that some people approached Jesus and asked him to heal a man who can neither hear nor speak. Actually, they asked him to lay his hands upon the man, a traditional method used at the time to cure the sick. It might be instructive to pay close attention to what Jesus did.

First, he put his fingers into the man’s ears, and then then apparently spit on the man’s tongue. To us, spitting might seem distasteful, but scholars tell us that it was not unusual for Greek and Hebrew physicians to employ spittle in their attempts to heal. Then, Jesus looked up to heaven and groaned, and uttered the command, “ephphatha” which Mark tells us means “be opened.” The result was miraculous. The man immediately began to hear and speak plainly.

We can only guess at why Jesus went through this procedure. You would think that he just could have done it with a word or a thought. Maybe, there is a lesson for us all in his way of healing. He seems to act as a conduit or connector between God and the deaf man. He puts his fingers in his ears as if he was putting cables on a dead car battery. Then, he looks to heaven as if to turn on the engine that will charge the battery. The power surges through Him into the man and he comes to life.

I am not offering this as a scientific or theological explanation of the healing. No one can really explain a cure like this one. Nevertheless, there is a good analogy here. We are all asked to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We are all asked to be healers. We are all asked to be involved or “hands on’ healers, and not just distant well wishers. We are all asked to be the conduit through which divine grace or power can flow through to those in need of healing.

Sometimes those in need around us seem like hard cases beyond repair. But in today’s second reading St. James tells us not to just take the easy cases but to be a means by which God’s grace can reach those in most need. The rich with gold rings and fine clothes do not need our care and attention. We must be just as attentive to the poor in both body and soul. Just as Jesus cured the poor deaf and dumb man, James tells us not to make distinctions of persons.

I love the animal stories of James Herriot, the famous British veterinarian, who spent his life caring for thousands of farm and domestic animals in rural Yorkshire. Herriot must have had plenty of ordinary cases but the stories he tells in his books are about those animals most in need of care. He treated them all, the healthy and the weak, with equal care and compassion. He came to realize that each animal had a value no matter the wealth or status of the owner. In his books Herriot used this little poem that obviously meant a lot to him.

All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.

It would be great if we could follow Herriot’s example in dealing with those we encounter every day in our ordinary lives.

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Reading 1.  Isaiah 35: 4-7a

Reading II. James 2: 1-5

Gospel. Mark 7: 31-37 (Ephphatha—Be Opened)