30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Gospel
Mk 10:46-52
As 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, Jesus 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.
Homily
Some time ago I lost sight in one eye. It was a frightening experience. As I faced the possibility
Even though researchers aren’t sure as to how can I last longer is found in mental therapy. continue reading description cialis 40 mg Most men today find cheapest viagra no prescription it difficult to get in a sexual mood creating erection problems in men. Like the shopper, it is the viagra buy on line http://amerikabulteni.com/2018/01/22/super-bowl-finalinin-adi-kondu-new-england-patriots-philadelphia-eagles/ brand she recognizes and knows, and grabs a hold of. The tablets are cheaper than any other erectile dysfunction treatment by helping millions of people, males and females, order viagra online all over the world to gain back self-confidence and lead best lovemaking session with stiffer penile that stays for longer time. of not having sight in one eye, the thought of losing the other really scared me. As I lived the days before my sight began to return, it was not only the thought of living in total darkness with its attendant problems which worried me, it was also the thought of never being able to enjoy the visual beauty of nature and of other human beings. During those days I called out to God over and over, “Have pity on me, I want to see.” Sight is one of the blessings which we so often take for granted.
The Gospel reading given to us for our meditation this weekend recounts for us a similar story. Bartimaeus is blind. He sits by the wayside begging. He is truly at the mercy of those who pass by. Persons who pass by can put all sorts of things into his hand. They can lead him wherever they want to. Bartimaeus no doubt has had many experiences, not all of them pleasant, because of his blindness. He wants to see and so he calls out to Jesus, the miracle worker who is passing by. “Son of David have pity on me… Master I want to see.” We are told that Bartimaeus’ faith restored his sight and that he followed Jesus on the way.
In New Testament terminology “the way” signifies the Christian life with all its exigencies, its challenges and its joys. Those who follow Jesus willingly live “the way”. The Gospel passage is telling us that Bartimaeus, once he could see, accepted “the way”, the Christian life. Once he could see!!
For us today, there are many who call themselves Christians but who do not accept “the way”. They do not follow “the way” because they do not see, they do not understand, they do not accept. Bartimaeus had to accept that Jesus was the messiah, which he did in spite of the known opposition of the religious leaders. Because he believed and called on Jesus, he saw; because he saw, he followed.
The problem with our world is that so few follow “the way”. History has shown us that many ways have been proposed to humanity, yet they have not brought about the happiness they promise. If we believe Christ, if we are people of faith, then we know that He, Christ is the WAY and that his way leads to the happiness which we all seek. True followers of Christ accept the way. This is what the saints did. This is what you and I who purport to follow Christ are committed to doing. Like Bartimaeus we become people of “THE WAY”.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God You call us to follow your son and make his way our Way but for that to happen, like Bartimaeus, we must believe, for belief will give us sight and with sight we will be able to follow Jesus on the way. Increase our faith Lord so that we may see. We thank you Father for all the men and women who have followed the Way and shown that it is possible. Grant us the desire to live the Way Father and having granted us that desire granted us the grace necessary to live the Way. We ask this through the intercession of Mary. Our
Mother and your Son Jesus, Amen
Fr. Joe Harris, is a former Rector of Regional Seminary of St. John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs, and currently Parish Priest of St. Ann’s, Cascade, Trinidad
