Sunday Scripture Readings

Printer-friendly versionSend to friend THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 26 Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52 OUR GOOD NEWS: Jesus helps us "see" with faith and "follow" in faithful service, a joyful discipleship for those willing to pay the price of commitment. Jericho lay a scant 15 miles from Jerusalem, Jesus’ destination as well as His destiny (Gospel). His disciples tagged along, unwillingly (Peter) or for sinful reasons (James and John), the rest having dropped out along the way (rich man). Now, just before Palm Sunday’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus finally recruited one genuine disciple. And of course, he was not the kind of person we might expect. Bartimaeus represents the outsider, a "loser" lost in the crowd, someone with whom many of us can identify. But this unlikely prospect becomes our model. He demonstrated remarkable faith, in three ways. First, Bartimaeus greeted Jesus with a solemn Messianic title, "Son (descendant in the line) of David." Second, this beggar persisted in prayer addressed to Jesus, grounded in desperate need and in spite of antagonistic unbelievers. These "scolded him" as much for his audacious profession of faith in Jesus’ true identity as for boldly requesting a cure. They thus foreshadowed Israel’s later rejection of the Good News. Third, the gift of sight led Bartimaeus to faith, and faith came to full expression in committed discipleship. This Mark indicated with a technical phrase, "He started to follow Him." Significantly and in contrast to reluctant disciples, Bartimaeus willingly "followed" his Messiah-Teacher up the road," another technical phrase in the Markan vocabulary. The biblical term for Jews on pilgrimage to the Holy City and temple was "going up" to the half-mile-high Jerusalem. Mark regularly emphasized Jesus’ unswerving journey to meet His fate there, a "going up" to be rejected and crucified. Although all others hung back, Jesus finally found in Bartimaeus a genuine disciple who both understood and accepted the Master’s teaching. Israel’s Messiah must pass through suffering before attaining glory, and we who "come after" ("follow") Jesus share his fate. This explains Jesus’ break with His usual policy of demanding silence about His Messianic identity and dismissing those whom He cured. In Bartimaeus, Jesus accomplished the purpose of His public ministry, which was to bring salvation to those who willingly accept it. His mission thus drew to a close. Mark illustrated this through his simple but profound story that all who out of need persist in faith-trust in Jesus will likewise receive empowerment to "see" and to "follow." The healing and restoring Messiah accepts all those willing to follow in His steps. Today’s Gospel presents Bartimaeus as the model Christian in his prayer and his wholehearted commitment to a discipleship that includes criticism and rejection by those who refuse to believe. Note too the relevance of today’s first reading, Jeremiah’s prophecy of God’s promise to give His people life in fullness. This gift is finally realized only in His eternal Kingdom, which nevertheless becomes present reality through miraculous cures by Jesus and through the prayers of His Church.

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