Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

October 28, 2018 

Readings:

First Reading: Jeremiah 31: 7-9

Psalm: 126

Second Reading: Hebrew 5: 1-6

Gospel reading according to Mark 10: 46-52

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Homily:

Jesus after visiting and preaching and doing some miracles in Jericho with his disciples, wanted to go and visit other places where he can preach to as many people as he can about the good news.  They were about to go when suddenly a man made a commotion.  “As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging” (Mk. 10: 46).  Suddenly they were interrupted by Bartimaeus, as what Mark described him, he was son of Timaeus, this name means “to honor,” was blind and sat by the roadside begging; he was a blind beggar.  All his life he begged on the roadside for he cannot work for a living.  He lived in begging.  Most probably he was abandoned by his family members or if he was married, his wife separated him with his children because of his condition.  

Jericho as “described in the Old Testament as the "City of Palm Trees," copious springs in and around Jericho have made it an attractive site for human habitation for thousands of years. It is known in Judeo-Christian tradition as the place of the Israelites' return from bondage in Egypt, led by Joshua, the successor to Moses” (crystalinks.com).

Although Bartimaeus was blind, he heard about what Jesus was capable of.  He heard that Jesus preached the good news, taught with authority, and performed many miracles and when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he took his chance.  “On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me’.” (Mk. 10: 47).  He called Jesus.  He was shouting out loud so that Jesus might hear him.  He knew how to catch the attention of Jesus as to those whom he begged, by recognizing Jesus as the “Son of David” as to the Son of Man.  He was asking some pity.

But the people surrounding and following Jesus did not want him to be heard and to receive attention; they silenced him with or without any valid reasons or maybe because he was a beggar and insignificant.  They even prevented him to call Jesus’ name.  “And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent” (Mk. 10: 48).  Bartimaeus was a beggar and he was begging some help to Jesus whom he thinks and feels can help him in his situation, whom he gives honor.  This is his chance to change his predicament.  Nevertheless, people just stopped him crying/shouting out for help.  Sometimes and most of the times, people hinder other people in need to call or even come nearer to God for help with or without any reasons.  They just prevented the poor, oppressed and marginalized people to beg help from the Lord God, instead of bringing them closer to God.

A person in need becomes insistence and eager to be acknowledged.  “But he kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’” (Mk. 10: 48).  Bartimaeus did not mind what the people was saying and doing to him but instead the more he cried out louder and louder.  He did not stop shouting so that he may catch the attention of Jesus, the Son of David.

Jesus, who was sensitive to the needs of the poor and always ready to extend his helping hands towards them, heard that someone was calling his name.  Despite of so many people surrounding him and following him he can still listen to the voice who was pleading for help.  “Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’  So they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take courage, get up, he is calling you.’” (Mk. 10: 49).  He stopped walking and asked his disciples to look for the one who was crying/calling for help.  The disciples found the one shouting and still shouting for help and told him that Jesus was inviting him to come to him.

It was unusual for a beggar like Bartimaeus to throw away the cloak that protected him during the cold night or hot day on the road to cover his body.  “He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus” (Mk. 10: 50).  The cloak he depended on for a long time is no longer needed.  He stood up on his on and came to Jesus with the help of the apostles.

When Bartimaeus was already in front of Jesus whom he called Son of David, he was asked by Jesus, even though Jesus knew what this citizen of Jericho needed or wanted but still he questioned him to express his desire.  “Jesus said to him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’  The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to see.’” (Mk. 10: 51). Usually Jesus asks people in need what they want so that it is clear to them what they are asking for helps or supports or whatever they want or desire.  He never suggests advices, recommends, endorses or commands what they needed most.  But instead he allows them, even us, to express what the desire of our hearts is.   Bartimaeus has big faith in Jesus even though he did not see him.  He believed that Jesus can cure him and give him a new sight, that’s why he said or asked Jesus, “Master, I want to see.”

Jesus granted his longing even he did not touch the eyes of Bartimaeus, or raised his eyes to heaven and uttered some oracle or made ritual, but by mere word, Bartimaeus was cured from him blindness. “Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.’  Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way” (Mk. 10: 52).  Jesus just told Bartimaeus to go his way, either to go home or go and find his own family, or to go elsewhere because his faith has saved him.  But instead of going away he became follower of Jesus, since he threw away his cloak, symbolizing his total abandonment of his former life and now he is embracing new life in Christ Jesus.