Cry out and Claim

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer some consolation and contemplation in the relationship they present between God and humanity. The author of the Book of Sirach is struck by the wisdom, and all knowing of God as this truth is presented in the Action of God in Nature. The spendour of the world is a reflection of the glory of the Creator. The Truth of the human condition and the eternal plan of the universe are within the domain of the Divine. In Jewish spiritual experience, this certainty about God invokes the praise of the psalmist for the power of the word of God which creates and restores and as it is spoken brings to being. The lack of tentativeness in proclaiming the power of God is noted by Friar JudeWinkler as the insistence in Jewish prayer dialogue shown by the blind Bartimaeus ,in the Gospel from Mark that Jesus, the Son of David, have mercy on him and heal him of his blindness. Friar Jude comments that the Gospel healings which are accompanied by faith are also spiritual healing. The blindness of Bartimaeus was physical. The blindness of Jesus disciples to the Truth of His identity as Messiah and the Son of David is spiritual and it is presented by Mark throughout this Gospel. We are very like the audience for whom Mark wrote. Our culture is more like the Gentile Roman audience of Mark than the Jewish Apostles and disciples who were steeped in the tradition of relationship with God who with mighty hand and outstretched arm restores the fortunes of Israel to the days of David in the Wisdom of the One described by Sirach. Like the Romans of the time of Mark, we are surrounded by many influences that tempt us to redefine the Truth. We are offered the insistence of Jewish spirituality that God continues to act in the most loving manner for humanity. Let us cry out and claim the mercy and healing which is Jesus mission.