The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to act with the determination of Bartimaeus to see our new life as followers of Jesus.
The reading from the Book of Sirach praises the Works of God in Nature.
* [42:15–43:33] These verses comprise another hymn; cf. 16:24–18:14. In them Ben Sira contemplates God’s power, beauty, and goodness as manifested in the mighty work of creating and preserving the universe (42:15–17, 22–25; 43:1–26), his omniscience (42:18–20), perfect wisdom and eternity (42:21). The conclusion is a fervent hymn of praise (43:27–31). (Sirach, CHAPTER 42, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the Greatness and Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals Blind Bartimaeus.
* [10:46–52] See notes on Mt 9:27–31 and 20:29–34. (Mark, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Larry Gillick, S.J. (1999) comments that we will receive our sight when we can receive our truth as did this Bartimaeus.
Seeing is believing? Believing for Bartimaeus is the beginning of seeing. Believing is seeing more than meets the eye. We can visually see other persons or this object or that setting and we believe we have really "seen it all". For those who are healed by their belief in Jesus, the reality of the Eucharist is simply receivable and believable, because they have been touched by His presence within and beyond what meets the eye. With the eyes of faith we behold and hold His presence in the sacraments of the every day, the every moment and every person of those days. "you have nothing whatever to fear from Him, He is calling you. (Gillick, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Your Word will enlighten and save me,” by Clement of Alexandria, 150-215 A.D.
"The commandment of the Lord shines clearly, enlightening the eyes. Receive Christ, receive power to see, receive your light, that you may plainly recognize both God and man. More delightful than gold and precious stones, more desirable than honey and the honeycomb is the Word that has enlightened us (Psalm 19:10). How could he not be desirable, who illumined minds buried in darkness, and endowed with clear vision 'the light-bearing eyes' of the soul? ... Sing his praises, then, Lord, and make known to me your Father, who is God. Your Word will save me, your song instruct me. I have gone astray in my search for God; but now that you light my path, Lord, I find God through you, and receive the Father from you, I become co-heir with you, since you were not ashamed to own me as your brother. Let us, then, shake off forgetfulness of truth, shake off the mist of ignorance and darkness that dims our eyes, and contemplate the true God, after first raising this song of praise to him: 'All hail, O light!' For upon us buried in darkness, imprisoned in the shadow of death, a heavenly light has shone, a light of a clarity surpassing the sun's, and of a sweetness exceeding any this earthly life can offer." (excerpt from EXHORTATION TO THE GREEKS 11.8) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 10:46-52 comments that this story can give us hope. Why? Because Bartimaeus tells us not to be ashamed to ask God for help. He tells us to believe that Jesus will hear us every time we cry out to him. And he tells us to trust that Jesus will welcome us. Just as Jesus heard “unclean” Bartimaeus and brought him close, Jesus hears us and calls us to himself so that he can heal us, cleanse us, and make us whole.
St. Josemaría Escrivá once wrote, “Our Lord is seeking us at every moment.” Can you hear Jesus calling you today? Come to him with faith in his mercy. He won’t push you away."
“Jesus, Son of David, I come to you. I trust in your mercy.” (Meditation on Mark 10:46-52, n.d.)
Peter Edmonds SJ, a member of the Jesuit community at Stamford Hill, North London, analyses the references to ‘faith’ in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
The word ‘faith’ occurs a fourth time in Mark in his account of the cure of Bartimaeus. He was a blind beggar who heard that Jesus was passing by. Three times he pleaded with Jesus for mercy and for the restoration of his sight. His prayer was granted and Jesus said to him, as to the woman previously, ‘Go, your faith has saved you’ (10:52). Paradoxically, Bartimaeus ignored this instruction to go; instead he followed Jesus on the way that led to Jerusalem, the city where Jesus was to die. His faith had expressed itself in repeated and persevering prayer, despite discouragement from those standing by. His example teaches us to persevere in prayer to the person of Jesus. Faith encourages the habit of regular and persistent prayer. Greek Christian tradition in particular has valued this prayer of Bartimaeus, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me’ (10:47); monks of old repeated it, as they trudged off to their work in the fields. (Edmonds, 2012)
Franciscan Media comments on Saint Justin Martyr’s story.
As patron of philosophers, Justin may inspire us to use our natural powers—especially our power to know and understand—in the service of Christ, and to build up the Christian life within us. Since we are prone to error, especially in reference to the deep questions concerning life and existence, we should also be willing to correct and check our natural thinking in light of religious truth. Thus we will be able to say with the learned saints of the Church: I believe in order to understand, and I understand in order to believe. (Saint Justin Martyr, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the hymn of Ben Sira that celebrates the works of Creation and the goodness of God. The reference to Jesus as the Son of David points to greater insight in blind Bartimaeus than those who could see. Friar Jude suggests that greater chutzpah is necessary in Catholic prayer.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, identifies the Holy Spirit as a divine “yes” within. Liberation theologian Leonardo Boff describes the signs of this interior awakening to the Spirit.
Nothing shows the presence of the spirit in human life as well as love does…. When love is expressed as compassion, the spirit enables us to come out of ourselves, put ourselves in the other’s place, bend over the person fallen by the wayside. In forgiveness we transcend ourselves, so that the past does not have the last word and cannot close off the present and the future.
The highest expression of the spirit is the one that opens us to the Great Other, in love and trust. It establishes a dialogue with God, listens from the conscience to God’s call, and delivers us trustingly into the palm of God’s hand. This communion can be so intense, say the mystics of every tradition, that the soul of the beloved is fused with the Lover in an experience of nonduality; by grace we participate in God’s very being. Here the human spirit is touching the hem of the Holy Spirit’s garment. [3] (Rohr, 2023)
As we embrace the revelation of God in nature and our relationships, the Spirit opens our eyes to the power of love and compassion.
References
Edmonds, P. (2012, November 13). Faith in the Gospels. Thinking Faith. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20121113_1.htm
Gillick, L. (2023, June 1). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/060123.html
Mark, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?46
Meditation on Mark 10:46-52. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/06/01/753665/
Psalms, PSALM 33. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?2
Rohr, R. (2023, June 1). An Indwelling Presence — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/an-indwelling-presence-2023-06-01/
Saint Justin Martyr. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-justin-martyr/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). What Do You Want Me to Do for You? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jun1
Sirach, CHAPTER 42. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved June 1, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/sirach/42?15
No comments:
Post a Comment