Homily for the Week of October 25, 2009

30th Sunday B - 2009

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7–9

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126:1–2, 2–3, 4–5, 6

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1–6

Gospel: Mark 10:46–59

Most of us have lived in Northern New York much of our lives. We are no use to cities larger than Plattsburgh or Watertown or Burlington. But many of us have had experiences in larger cities like Albany, or New York or Montreal. The streets in these cities are lined with strings of shops, but there are also a whole cluster of homeless people customarily begging for money from passers-by. Some people walk past more briskly when one of the beggars approaches them. Others smile or nod in acknowledgement. Still others dig into their pockets for loose change. It is particularly unnerving when one of these homeless people shouts loudly or continues to call out after you.

Now bring that scene to 2000 years ago. You and Jesus are walking together with a crowd after meeting each other in Jericho just 18 miles from Jerusalem where Jesus would be killed. One the side of road is a beggar who shouts out after Jesus. Some in the crowd try to silence him, but he calls out all the more. Because of the crowd, Jesus might not have been able to see the man, who was blind, but Jesus hears his cries for mercy. Jesus finds out that his name is Bartimaeus. Jesus hears him and says, “Call him.” They then get Bartimaeus, telling him that Jesus is calling him. But now it is Jesus who is calling out to this beggar. Jesus' attention to turned completely to this person in need.

Jesus does not say an angry What do you want? but a deeply interpersonal exchange between himself and the beggar and Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He says to Jesus: I want to see. Jesus gave him back his sight and said to him: Go your way, your faith has saved you.

In Jesus' day, to have a handicap like blindness was an outward sign that one had committed some sin, either their own or someone's within their family. Despite this, in most healing stories, family or friends bring the handicapped or sick to Jesus, asking that He intervene and give the person health. In every case, Jesus heals the person for the good of the whole community. Each healed person benefits, but somehow the healing serves all believers as well.

It is not clear whether Bartimaeus is asking to see for the first time or to see again. Bartimaeus does not go away, but instead follows Jesus. Bartimaeus' problem was not only blindness, but he was blind to what Jesus wanted of him. While most of us have not been blind from birth, we are born with clouded sight. It is as though we are born with cataracts on our eyes, living our days of greyness in a world full of brilliant colors.

We learn something more of Bartimaeus. ''He threw aside his cloak.'' That is a very important action. It was the practice of beggars to spread out their cloaks and sit on them. Not only did the cloth keep them off the ground, but also a cloak made it easy for beggars to gather up coins thrown by those who passed by. When Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, it meant he abandoned his dependence on the money and transferred his dependency to Jesus.

As faithful Catholics, our ears must be attuned to the calls of those who are crying out for healing and reconciliation. In many instances we are the ones who hear the begging of friends or family members who call out for reconciliation and healing. In other instances, especially when one member of our family or parish community is especially weighed down by suffering, perhaps we can lead that person to a priest. But in my 50 years as a priest I have found that it is very, very often people like you who have led a person to me to seek spiritual help or healing. Many times persons need your eyes and ears and common sense to help those most in need to come to me for help. We must commit ourselves to working together to bring about healing and reconciliation.

Our own share in the priesthood, given to us in baptism, demands that we as well come to know and understand all those around us. In coming to know people and the human condition, we become more compassionate and less likely to complain or avoid someone. With compassion, our first instinct becomes to serve someone's needs.

The lesson for us from the story of the blind man is that in his darkness he never gave up hope that one day he would be able to see the world as it is. Thus when Jesus came to him he was prepared to see. Jesus touched him and for the first time he SAW--- and the first thing he saw was the face of Jesus Christ. Now he could finally see the world for what it was -- a place where Jesus Christ lived.

The man happily put aside the memory of his blindness and now seeing, began to follow Jesus down the road that led to the land beyond all times. So it shall be for us if we try our best to follow Jesus in this life.

May the Lord forgive us for all the times we have asked for foolish things, rather than for the help to see better the road to salvation. Let us also pray to be a close friend of Jesus like Bartimaeus was. I leave you with a question. It is the same Jesus asked Bartimaeus. Jesus is asking each of you: What do you want me to do for you? Spend the days of this week giving Jesus your answer.