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SYNOPSIS OT XXX [B] (Oct 25) Jer 31:7-9; Heb 5: 1-6; Mk 10: 46-52 (L/15)
Introduction: The central theme of today’s readings is the overflowing mercy and kindness of a loving, healing and forgiving God for His children.
Scripture lessons: The first reading tells us how a forgiving and compassionate God has been healing the spiritual blindness of His Chosen People by subjecting them to captivity in Babylon and liberating them, bringing them back to their homeland. The Jerusalem journey of Jesus in the company of the lame and the blindconnects the first reading to today’s gospel. The healing of the blind Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel is also seen as the fulfillment of the joyful prophecy of Jeremiah about the return of the exiled Jews from Babylonto their homeland. Today’s second reading, taken from Hebrews 5, presents Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for sins and as the true High Priest of the New Testament. It also gives us the assurance that our High Priest, Jesus, is sympathetic to us because he has shared our human nature. Today’s Gospel explains how Jesus shows the mercy and compassion of his Heavenly Father by healing the blind Bartimaeus. Just as the blind and the lame were God’s concern in the first reading, Jesus is concerned with the blind beggar, Bartimaeus of Jericho. On hearing that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, Bartimaeus loudly expressed his trusting faith in the healing power of Jesus by shouting his request, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."When Jesus invited him to come near, Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak (symbolizing perhaps the baptismal divesting). His meeting with Jesus gave Bartimaeus the gift of spiritual as well as physical sight, and he became a disciple of Jesus.
Life messages:1) Instead ofremaining in spiritual blindness, let us pray for spiritual sight. Each one of us suffers from spiritualblindness. Hence, we need the light of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, granting us proper spiritual vision. Let us learn to recognize the causes of our spiritual blindness. Anger, hatred, prejudice, jealousy, evil habits, addictions etc. make us spiritually blind, and they prevent us from seeing the goodness in our family members, neighbors and God’s presence in them. Hence let us learn to think about and see the goodness in others without becoming unkind, critical and judgmental. We are blinded by greed when we are never satisfied with what we have and incur debts to buy luxury items. Hence,let us pray to have a clear vision of Christian values and priorities in our lives and to acknowledge the presence of God dwelling in ourselves and in our neighbors. A clear spiritual vision enables us to see the goodness in others, to express our appreciation for all that they have been doing for us, and to refrain from criticizing their performance.
2) We need to "cry out" to Jesus, as Bartimaeus did.Like Bartimaeus, we must seek Jesus with trusting faith in his goodness and mercy. Sometimesour fears, anger and habitual sinsprevent us from approaching God in prayer. At times,weeven become angrywith Godwhen He seems slow inanswering our prayers. In these desperate moments, let us approach Jesus in prayer with trusting faith, as Bartimaeus did, and listen carefully to the voice of Jesus asking us:"What do you want me to do for you?” Let us tell Him all our heart’s intentions and needs.
OT XXX [B] (Oct 10) Jer 31:7-9; Heb 5: 1-6; Mk10:46-52 (L/15)
Anecdotes: # 1: An ancient eye test for spiritual blindness: Fr. De Mellotells astory which can help us to checkour spiritual blindness.A hermit asked his disciples: “When do you say that the night is ended and it is morning?" The first disciple said: “I say that it is morning when I can distinguish an oak tree from a maple tree.” The hermitsaid: “No." The second disciple answered: “I know it is morningwhen I can distinguish a cow from a sheep at a distance.” Once again thehermit disagreed. The third disciple replied “It is morning when no star is visible in the cloudless sky.” “That is also a wrong answer,” said thehermit. Then he explained:” I know it is morningwhen I can recognize a person asa son or daughter of God, and, hence, my own brother or sister.”
# 2: Two famous prayers for spiritual vision: Cardinal Newman prays for clear vision in his famous poem, “Lead Kindly Light”:
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom; lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
“Amazing Grace,” As the captain of aBritish slaveship,John Newton regained his faith during a storm at seaand became an ordained ministerwho was very active in theabolitionist movement. He explains how he gained his spiritual eyesight in his famous hymn, Amazing Grace.
Amazing grace!
How sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.
Today’s Gospel,which tells of the healing ofthe blind man, Bartimaeus, challenges us tostrengthen our faith in Jesus, the healer, and invites us togaintrue spiritual vision.
# 3: “I wish to be able to see my children eat off gold plates.” According toa Jewish legend there was once ablind man who was married but had no children. Although his life was hard,he never complained. One day as the blind man was sitting by a river, the prophet Elijah came to him from heaven and said, “Even though your life has been hard, you never complained, and so God will grant you one wish.” The poor man frowned. “Only one wish!" he said. “I’m blind, I’m poor, and I’m childless. How will one wish satisfy all my problems? But give me twenty-four hours and I’ll think up a wish.” He went home and told his wife what had happened. She smiled at him and said, “Eat well and sleep soundly, for I know what you should wish.” He came back the next morning and said to Elijah as he appeared again, “I wish to be able to see my children eat from gold plates.” The wish was granted and the man and his wife lived happily for the rest of their days. Today’s Gospel presents another blind man whose wish was to regain his sight. Jesus restored sight to his eyes and to his spirit, and Bartimaeus immediately began to follow Jesus as a sighted, witnessing disciple.
Introduction: The central theme of today’s readings is the overflowing mercy and kindness of a loving and forgiving God for His people. The first reading tells us how a forgiving and compassionate God healed the spiritual blindness of His Chosen People by subjecting them to captivity in Babylon and then liberated them, bringing them back to their homeland. The Jerusalem journey of Jesus in the company of the lame and the blindis the connection between the first reading and today's Gospel. The healing of the blind Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel is seen also as the fulfillment of the joyful prophecy of Jeremiah about the return of the exiled Jews from Babylonto their homeland. Today’s second reading, taken from the letter to the Hebrews, presents Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for sins and as the great High Priest. It identifies Jesus as the true High Priest of the New Testament. It also gives us the assurance that, as the High Priest, Jesus is sympathetic to us because He has shared our human nature. Today’s Gospel explains how Jesus showed the mercy and compassion of his Heavenly Father by healing Bartimaeus, a blind man. Just as the blind and the lame were God’s concern in the first reading, Jesus was concerned with the blind beggar, Bartimaeus of Jericho. On hearing that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, Bartimaeus loudly expressed his trusting faith in the healing power of Jesus by shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."As Jesus invited him to come near, Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak (symbolizing perhaps the baptismal divesting). His meeting with Jesus gave Bartimaeus the gift of spiritual as well as physical sight, and he became a disciple of Jesus.
First reading: Jer 31: 7-9: This reading, taken from the book of Jeremiah, tells usof the small number of people, "the remnant of Israel," who had survived the Assyrian captivity begun in 721 B.C. Jeremiahuses this image to describe the coming return of the Babylonian captives as they will be led on their joyful journey home to Jerusalem. The passage foretells God’s promise to give His people life in all its fullness. Through their exile and suffering, the people had learned to humble themselves and turn to God with sincere repentance.The returnees would include notonly the healthy, but the blind, the lame, and the vulnerable. Originally spiritually blind,the exiled Jews, throughsuffering,would receive spiritual sight, and theywould express their gratitude to God by singing His glories on their way back to their city.Jesus' journey to Jerusalemin the company of the lame and the blind connectsthis first readingwith today's Gospel. The Gospel highlights the actions of Bartimaeus which called healing from the heart of Jesus and prompted the now-seeing beggar to follow Jesus as a witnessing disciple. The first reading, on the other hand, directs our attention to God's merciful actions: "delivering his people . . . bringing them back . . . gathering them . . . consoling them… guiding them . . . leading them."
The second reading (Hebrews 5: 1): The reading describesJesus as the High Priest of the new Covenant. It likenshim to the class of ancient priests, (sympathetic and patient, not glorifying himself), then distinguishes Jesus from the others (because the Father called Jesus his Son). The peopleaddressed inthis letter had beenput out of the synagogues when they accepted Jesus. The writerof Hebrews tries to comfort them by depicting Jesus asa superior replacement for the priests upon whom they had formerly depended. The Jewish High Priest was a sinner like others, and his role was to offer sacrifices to God for himself and for the people as their representative. But Jesus was sinless; he offered himself as a sacrifice for all sin, and He continues to act as our mediator at “the throne of grace.” Further, Jesus, the Son of God, was appointed directly by God to an even better priesthood (“the order of Melchizedek” Ps 110:4). In his role, person and appointment, Jesus surpassed every High Priest in ancient Israel. Hence through Jesus, the true High Priest, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence and boldness, and we can expect mercy and favor from God. It also gives us the assurance that our High Priest, Jesus, is sympathetic to us because he has shared our human nature.
Exegesis: The context: Today’s Gospeldescribes Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem through Jericho, an ancient cityfifteen miles away from Jerusalem. Jericho was the first city conquered by the Israelites when they entered Palestine. It was a city of great wealth and remarkable beauty, supporting many date palm plantations and fig trees. Great numbers of merchants and Jewish priests made their homes in this pleasant city. The Mosaic Lawrequired every Jewish male overtheage of twelve and living withinfifteen miles of Jerusalem to attend the Passover. Those who, for one reason or another, were exempt from this obligation would often line the roads to Jerusalem to greet the crowds of pilgrimsas theypassed towardthe city. The Jewish rabbis on pilgrimageoften taught religious lessons tothe pilgrims on their journey. Beggars also capitalized on the increased traffic through the cityto beg for money.One such beggar was the blind man known as Bartimaeus.
James & John versus Batrtimaeus: It is not by coincidence that this Gospel of blind Bartimaeus follows immediately upon last Sunday’s text about James and John’s ambitious request for positions of primacy in Jesus’ coming Kingdom. It is probable that Mark intends to the two stories to be seen in contrast: James and John, although possessing physical sight, evidently do not “see” Jesus for who He is, do not understand Him and His message properly yet, and are still too filled with pride and a desire for power. Bartimaeus, on the other hand, although physically blind, evidently “sees” Jesus much better than some of His own disciples; he recognizes Jesus as the promised Davidic Messiah, but, instead of asking for power and glory, seeks only the healing and mercy that many Jews believed the Messiah to be bringing. (Rev. Dr. Watson, Jerusalem)
Jesus spots a particular blind man in the crowd: The story ofBartimaeus is the last healing miracle recorded in the Gospel of Mark. The story ispresented dramatically.While the majority of those who received healing in the New Testament are not mentioned by name,in this case, the beggar’s name is given as Bartimaeus, which means son of Timaeus. When the peopletold Bartimaeus the news of Jesus’ passage through the city, he began to shout his remarkable prayer of Faith: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me."Jesus was surrounded by a large crowd. Amid the noise and dust,people were jostling for attention, and beggars cried out for alms. In spite of this tumult, Jesus heard one voice crying out through the noise of the crowd. Who would have expected a Messianic greeting from a blind beggar? In spite of the crowd's objections, Jesus stopped and, recognizingBartimaeus’Faith,called the blind man over. In the Law of Moses, the blind are among those who are to be accorded protection in the name of God. Leviticus admonishes the Israelites not to “curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind.” In Deuteronomy those who lead the blind astray along the road are placed under the same curse as those who withhold justice from the alien, the orphan or the widowed. Psalm 146 proclaims that God gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down and loves the righteous.