The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate what might be impeding our love and faith as we relate with those we encounter on our journey.
Love and judgement
The reading from the Book of Revelation is the Message to the Church in Ephesus about losing love.
* [2:1] Ephesus: this great ancient city had a population of ca. 250,000; it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and the commercial, cultural, and religious center of Asia. The other six churches were located in the same province, situated roughly in a circle; they were selected for geographical reasons rather than for the size of their Christian communities. Walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands: this signifies that Christ is always present in the church; see note on Rev 1:4.1
Psalm 1 begins the Psalter by outlining the choice of the Two Ways.
* [Psalm 1] A preface to the whole Book of Psalms, contrasting with striking similes the destiny of the good and the wicked. The Psalm views life as activity, as choosing either the good or the bad. Each “way” brings its inevitable consequences. The wise through their good actions will experience rootedness and life, and the wicked, rootlessness and death.2
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus heals a blind beggar saved by his faith.
* [18:38] Son of David: the blind beggar identifies Jesus with a title that is related to Jesus’ role as Messiah (see note on Lk 2:11). Through this Son of David, salvation comes to the blind man. Note the connection between salvation and house of David mentioned earlier in Zechariah’s canticle (Lk 1:69). See also note on Mt 9:27.3
Kimberly Grassmeyer prepared this reflection during the few days on either side of the 2020 US Presidential election.
So when I read the Gospel lesson (Luke 18:35-43) about a blind man calling out to Jesus, I visualized a disenfranchised person calling truth to power. This man was ‘shushed’ by those walking with Jesus, but he continued to call out. While his effort could be viewed as a selfish request for better personal circumstances (something many struggle with when we vote!), I instinctively saw it differently. Perhaps due to the divisiveness we’re experiencing here in the States, I suppose I just needed to believe his better angels were at work. I saw a man calling out to be seen, pleading to be heard, tired of being ignored at the fringes of society. He allowed his still small voice to roar God’s message. Jesus saw. Jesus listened. And just as our prayers are heard and addressed, in God’s way, Jesus restored the blind man’s sight. The critical element here? When Jesus granted the man’s request, that man joined Jesus, “giving Glory to God.” He immediately used his gift to advance the teachings and blessings of Christ to others, so much so that the others likewise “gave praise to God.”4
Don Schwager quotes “The blind man knows that Jesus is the Son of David and the Messiah,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The blind man must have understood that the sight of the blind cannot be restored by human means but requires, on the contrary, a divine power and an authority such as God only possesses. With God nothing whatsoever is impossible. The blind man came near to him as to the omnipotent God. How then does he call him the Son of David? What can one answer to this? The following is perhaps the explanation. Since he was born and raised in Judaism, of course, the predictions contained in the law and the holy prophets concerning Christ had not escaped his knowledge. He heard them chant that passage in the book of the Psalms, 'The Lord has sworn in truth to David, and will not annul it, saying: "of the fruit of your loins I will set a king upon your throne"' (Psalm 132:11). "The blind man also knew that the blessed prophet Isaiah said, 'There will spring up a shoot from the root of Jesse, and from his root a flower will grow up' (Isaiah 11:1). Isaiah also said, 'Behold, a virgin will conceive and bring forth a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us' (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14). He already believed that the Word, being God, of his own will had submitted to be born in the flesh of the holy Virgin. He now comes near to him as to God and says, 'Have mercy on me, Son of David.' Christ testifies that this was his state of mind in offering his petition. He said to him, 'Your faith has saved you.'"(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 126)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Revelation 1:1-4; 2:1-5 comments that Revelation wasn’t so puzzling to John’s first readers. Most of them were familiar with imagery like the moon turning to blood and stars falling from the sky. Earlier writers like Isaiah and Joel had used word pictures like these to talk about God’s action in bringing down power-hungry empires and upending a status quo in which the rich continued to exploit the poor.
As we turn again to the Book of Revelation at the end of the Church year, let’s catch the spirit of those early followers. Let’s look up to see the Lamb enthroned, eager to transform us and our world in the light of his glory. He is coming soon! Let’s be sure our preparations for his return are motivated by that “love [we] had at first” (Revelation 2:4), the love that Jesus had for us before we even began to respond to him. “Come, Lord Jesus! Make me ready and eager to welcome you, both in my day today and when you return to bring me to your heavenly home.”6
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Revelation was written to tell us what to do to give witness to our faith. The title for Jesus of Son of David is used in Luke as Jesus approaches Jerusalem on His journey. Friar Jude cites a rabbinic saying to support our praying to God with more chutzpah.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the virtue for living in the in-between times Jesus calls “faith.” He is talking about the grace and the freedom to live God’s dream for the world now—while not rejecting the world as it is. That’s a mighty tension that is not easily resolved.
There are always two worlds. The world as it is usually operates on power, ego, and success. The world as it could be operates out of love. One is founded on dominative power, and the other is a continual call to right relationship and reciprocal power. The secret of this Kingdom life is discovering how we can live in both worlds simultaneously.7
May our reflection today on being judgmental and lacking boldness in our testimony nudge us to attend to the Spirit of love and faith.
References
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