The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

How very upbeat all the readings are this Sunday—from God’s promise of bringing everyone to the Kingdom, including the blind, the lame, and mothers with child, to an invitation for all to approach the Throne of Grace, to Jesus’ curing of blind Bartimaeus amid cries of approval from the large crowd!

So often, Jeremiah is seen as the depressing bearer of bad news. Not so today! If ever the Jewish people in exile in Babylon needed a “pick up,” they have it in this most joyful prophecy of God gathering them all, leading them safely home, consoling them as His favored ones. As we listen to this reading, we can realize that God is speaking today to a broken and battered world, so in danger of losing hope. It was always God’s plan for everyone to be saved, so we ourselves need to share the Good News with those of all shades of belief and cultures, and we need to do it better.

In the Jewish tradition, The Messiah was always thought to be both priest and king. Here, Jesus is seen not only as a sinless High Priest, but as one who truly shares our pain. Furthermore, in contrast to the Jewish high priest who entered the “Holy of Holies” once a year, all are invited to approach the Mercy Seat often and with confidence.

Our first two readings lead us to the climactic Gospel story of Jesus who openly and publicly invites the blind Bartimaeus to approach (even as the crowd tries to silence his cries!). There is no further need for silence and privacy, for Jesus is approaching Jerusalem for His priestly Sacrifice. How pleased he must have been to hear Bartimaeus’ plea for mercy, and his request to see, when just a short time ago He had been so disappointed at the blindness of His disciples, especially James and John who wanted the first places in His kingdom.

May the Lord forgive us for all the times we have asked for foolish things, rather than for the grace to see better the road to salvation, and to become a close companion of Jesus as did Bartimaeus.

Msgr. Paul Whitmore
(pwhitmore29 at yahoo dot com)