by Fr. Jose “Joesum” Sumampong, Jr.
October 24, 2021
30 th Sunday in ORDINARY TIME (B)
Thirtieth Sunday in OT (B)
Jeremiah 31: 7-9 / Psalm 126: 1-6 /
Hebrews 5: 1-6 / Mark 10: 46-52
BARTIMAEUS: HIS JOURNEY OF FAITH
Word: …And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging (Mk 10:46). Two things: first, in the preceding days, Mark tells us (cf. Mk 8-10), these same disciples showed themselves totally “blind” to the real destiny of Jesus. Take note of their dreams for honor and human success (Mk 10:37), while Jesus has already announced his cross three times (cf. Mk 8:31, 9:31, 10:34).
The readings of the past six Sundays have made manifest the lack of understanding shown by the disciples, and how humanly impossible it is, to follow Jesus. Let’s go back to those readings: to follow Jesus one must “lose one’s life” (Mk 8:35), …make oneself “the last” (Mk 9:35), …”pluck one’s eyes, hands and feet” lest one falls into sin (Mk 9:47), …heroically hold on to “conjugal fidelity” (Mk 10:9), …”sell one’s possessions and give them to the poor” (Mk 10:21), …”drink the cup and be plunged into the baptism” into which Jesus is plunged, and make oneself “the slave of all” (Mk 10:38-44).
But here is one man, Bartimaeus. There are many blind people in the poor countries of the Middle East. Before Braille taught the blind to read with their fingers, they were reduced to mendacity, and helplessness. In the Bible, blindness is the typical image of poverty—that is, of someone left to his own forces.
Mark alone gives his name: Bartimaeus. He was a man now known to all; for he was the man whom Jesus had miraculously healed!
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. (Mk 10:47-48). As usual Mark is concrete. We see a most lively “short film”, in which all details are as deeply symbolic as they are well portrayed.
We know that blind persons have a highly developed sense of hearing. Bartimaeus’ ears have told him of the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. Seated on the roadside at the gate of Jericho, he hears the passersby noisily before him on the path. He is told that this is Jesus.
Suddenly in the deepest darkness of his night, a mad hope had arisen. Then, he howls, he shouts his prayer: “Kyrie, eleison” in Greek.
It is not difficult to imagine a person who causes a disruption when someone famous comes near. The reaction of the people to Bartimaeus and their attempt to hush him are understandable. There are always people ready to impose silence on the poor. Some categories of men and women find it always hard to be heard: immigrants, marginalized, handicapped, victims of all kinds. But Bartimaeus is persistent and cries out even more loudly.
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him” (Mk 10:48). This is but a small detail, but we should not pass on without paying attention. Jesus puts his disciples at the service of the poor.
Jesus sends his message through his disciples. God needs men. Yes God communicates with mankind through the Church—and we are the Church.
o0o
Order: The healings that Jesus performs in the gospel are always a sign of the coming of the kingdom. This healing of the blind Bartimaeus is also a symbol of coming to faith, of learning to see as God sees. To open someone’s eyes suggests opening their minds.
The gospel is inspiring us to join with Bartimaeus in obstinately demanding mercy and then trusting that healing will follow. The story is fairly straightforward, but there is a great deal of emotion expressed.
o0o
Realities: 1. Margaret Storm Jameson, an English novelist, once said: “Most of us spend 58 minutes an hour living in the past with regret for lost joys, or shame for things badly done (both utterly useless and weakening) or in a future which we either long for or dread.”
“The only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle, which is exactly what is it – a miracle, and unrepeatable.”
Work at your work. Play at your play. Shed your tears. Enjoy your laughter. Now is the time of your life. (Sunshine, NOW TIME)
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2. A messenger came to an old ivy-covered castle and knocked with the great iron knocker. No answer. He tried again; only a hollow echo. But he knew the folks were at home; he had seen them in the window. So with growing anger he grabbed the knocker in both hands and banged away for all he was worth, 20 – 30 times.
A slow soft shuffle from within was his answer. Then a tiny wrinkled face popped out of a latch hole and timidly enquired whether the good gentleman wanted to come in.
“Did I want to come in?” he raved. “Man, anyone who knocked as I did, must have.”
“Well, you see, it’s like this,” said the elderly lady. “There are so many little children around here who come up, bang the door a few times and then scamper off, so we’ve learned not to pay any attention to them. But when I heard you knock, I really felt you wanted to come in; that’s why I came to open the door.” (Bruno Hagspiel, PRAYER WITH FAITH)
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3. A minister was being shown through a section of a Detroit automobile factory by the foreman. Among the workers was a parishioner of the minister, a fellow by the name of John. Knowing that John was a skilled mechanic the minister remarked, “I guess John is one of your best workers.” “Sorry to disagree,” replied the foreman. “True, he could be one of our best, but John stands around talking about his religion when he should be attending to his machine. Personally, he is a fine fellow, and he is a good man when he works, but he is still has to learn that when he is running that machine, his religion ought to come out of his finger and not out of his mouth. (Drinkwater, DEEDS SHOW RELIGION, NOT WORDS)
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4. Robert Louis Stevenson has a story that may demonstrate to us a contemporary setting of the faith of Bartimaeus:
It seems a storm caught a sea-faring vessel off rocky coast. The wind and waves threatened to drive the boat to its destruction. In the midst of the terror, one daring passenger, contrary to orders, made his way across the ship. Groping along a passageway, he found the pilot house. There he beheld an intriguing light: the ship’s pilot was lashed to his post. Secure against the raging elements, the held the wheel fast, turning the ship inch by inch once more out to the sea. The pilot saw the watcher and smiled. The daring passenger found his way below the deck where the other passengers huddled. Encouragingly he said, “I have seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled. All is well.”
o0o
Direction : O Lord, by all your dealings with us, whether of joy or pain, of light or darkness, let us be brought to you. Let us value no treatment of your grace simply because it makes us happy or because it makes us sad, or because it gives us or denies us what we want. But may all that you send us bring us to you, that knowing your perfection we may be sure in every disappointment that you are still loving us, and in every darkness that you are still enlightening us, and in every enforced idleness that you are still using us, yes, in every death, that you are giving us life. (Prayer That Everything May Lead Us to God, Phillips Brooks <1835-1893> Episcopalian Minister and Composer)