Bartimaeus (2015-10-25)

SUNDAY 25 October 2015 30^th Sunday

• Jeremiah 31:7-9  •Psalm 126  • Hebrews 5:1-6  •Mark 10:46-52 •

[__01__]    The blind man, Bartimaeus as standing at the side of the road. With his physical impairment, the inability to see, , he had to beg for alms, for charity.

While he did not have much MOBILITY, he did have the WIRELESS-social media of his day, a shout in the public square.

Some people would have noticed him. Perhaps, if you and I had been there, we would have paid some attention.

[*** P A U S E ***]

[__02__]      In a letter about compassion and human suffering, Pope John Paul II observes this about ANOTHER person at the roadside, at the curb, in the margin between Eagle Rock Avenue traffic and Eagle Rock Reservation.

John Paul II is writing about the person, the abandoned and forgotten man, found on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho by the Good Samaritan. He had fallen victim to robbers. (Luke 10:30)

He reminds us that “everyone who stops beside the suffering of another person … is a Good Samaritan.” (John Paul II, Salvifici Doloris, 1984, n. 28)

Are we moved to pay attention in this way? Why? Are we motivated because the situation seems interesting …. Or are we truly interested?

John Paul II summarizes, “this stopping does not mean curiosity but availability.”  (Salvifici Doloris, n. 29)

[__03__]      In our lives as followers of Christ, are we available or are we merely curious?

We might consider the words of the blind man himself, Bartimaeus. He proclaims his request to Jesus, “Master, I want to see.”  (Mark 10:41)

Do we want to see?

Are we only inquisitive from a distance?  Are we available? Do we want to see?

[__04__]    In Bartimaeus we see a person not only curious but available as a follower, committed, faithful.

He says to the Lord, “Master, I want to see.”

Of course, having received sight and visual perception,  his mobility was now improved and he had access to new media.  Time to upgrade?

 [*** P A U S E ***]

Would he not have been curious about these many options?  Yet, his commitment, his faith commitment is to Jesus by whom he has been healed.

Bartimaeus is not only curious but also available. He wants to see.

[*** P A U S E ***]

[__05__]   Do you and I want to see?

We often respond YES when the object in view brings us contentment, pleasure.

We may be curious.

Would we be available if this this not the case?

Jesus invites us not only to be curious but also to be courageous and, therefore, available to him, to serve.

However, isn’t it true that our lives as mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, neighbors call us not only to be curious but also available?

We read in the Gospel of Mark of last Sunday, “And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:44-45)

[__06__]    This service may take several forms.

For those of us who are young, in school, we are called to perseverance and courage and fidelity in our studies and to our teachers.

To go to school is  your calling, your vocation, your calling to grow into a mature adult.

This is God’s plan, not to place in you in a particular percentile but to place your gifts at the service of others.

For this, in school, we need not only to be curious, but also to be committed, to be available.

We want to see.

[__07__]   Do you and I want to see?

[*** P A U S E ***]

[__09__]     The social access and mobility for Bartimaeus improves because of his vision.   He wants to see.

St. Paul, in 2^nd Corinthians, reminds us that Jesus died for us so that we might also live for others…

“He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

In this regard, following God means also following after …or following up with … our neighbor.

Access to God means access to our community.  Being moved by God means being moved to love another.

If we think we cannot live without “social media” and “mobility”, we would probably be correct. This is because love of God and love of neighbor go together.  

We want to see.   [__fin__]