30TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME HOMILY – YEAR B 2024
GAINING SIGHT AND A FAITH VISION
Mk 10.46-52 Jer 31.7-9 Heb 5.1-6
Now Mark turns from the apostles and their lack of insight into who Jesus is and what his proclamation of the Kingdom really means, to Bartimaeus, a poor outsider, a blind beggar desperate to get close to Jesus along the road, as he expresses faith that Jesus will help him in his difficulties. Unlike the apostles, he’s not worried about position and self-importance. He is just wanting to gain his sight, but first he has eyes of faith in Jesus, and no amount of dissuasion will put him off, as they try to shut him up, as he shouts out all the louder, and finally succeeds!
Last week we heard how James and John were concerned about their positions in the Kingdom, once it had arrived, not realizing that it was already evolving along the path of Jesus’ ministry, as he reached out to those in need while fulfilling his mission of proclaiming Good News about God in the image of a Father of life and love. It takes them a long time to wake up to the fact that the kingdom was coming and present in the person of Jesus, and that their role was to follow his example of humble service, with faith lived out here and now.
It’s sometimes said that it’s not the ultimate goal aimed for that is the most important thing in life, but that it’s making the most of the journey en route. I was prompted to think about this when preparing some thoughts for the St Columba’s Year 12 Graduation Mass last Monday. As they prepare for exams starting this week, their future is not totally dependent on high scores, but in the way they live their lives as people committed to Gospel values, hopefully learned and appreciated through the way they have grown up in loving families and educated in a faith environment, where these values are lived out in word and action.
Then I had 3 funerals this week, to be balanced by 7 Baptisms this Sunday, and a wedding on Saturday, reflecting the ongoing diversity of priestly ministry, and the rhythm of life ongoing! It seems to me that we can learn much from those whose lives we celebrate and commend to God through our funeral liturgy in particular, in the way we hear of their often quiet but effective ways of living out their faith with family and friends.
The perspective of grandchildren, and great grandchildren, where they have been fortunate enough to live long enough to be part of their lives, reminds us of the importance of the simple things of life, like spending time together, listening, encouraging and sharing stories, personal and written, and having fun together. These are the things that really count and remain in our memories when they are gone, not so much what is left behind in the will!
David Ireland got to 97, going to school here at St Therese’s in the early 1930’s, then on to the foundation year of St Bernard’s in Moonee Ponds back then, ironically ending up in aged care on the same site, where I anointed him a few weeks ago! We may have even crossed paths in January 1970, when he was in a senior position at EFM (Explosives Factory Maribyrnong), and I was on the bottom rung as an Unapprenticed Youth, working in the Explosives Laboratory!! As well as being a passionate family man, he was always involved in parish life, he was active at OLN and even maintained the en-tout-cas tennis courts at St Therese’s, and an actively committed member of St VdeP for many years. As his namesake grandson David concluded in his tribute: “Papa’s Catholic faith was a cornerstone of his life, and informed his actions, values and views of the world.” We can certainly learn from old David!
So we see Bartimaeus, who has had a tough time in life, remaining hopeful and confident that Jesus will help him, persevering with faith in his power to enlighten and give new insight. Earlier, in the first reading, Jeremiah has emerged from his black hole of depression, from rejection, verbal abuse and disillusionment, to see that there is hope for the future of people who live by their faith in a God who accompanies them in life, where better times are coming, after exile and disconnection from each other.
Then there is the theological perspective from Hebrews, with the reminder of the frailty of the human condition for all, including the priest of the Old and New Testaments, whoever they are, where the mistake has often been made that being set apart for ministry means moving upwards towards perfection! The reality is far from it.
To my mind, that is the problem of clericalism, where a superior attitude is adopted by those who think they are more important than the mere layperson! While Hebrews focusses on the sacred role of the priest, modelled on Jesus, it is clear that this is not about elevation, as the priest is to “sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness”, as we hear today. So there’s a heavy responsibility to show the way through service, for those commissioned or ordained for such a role in ministry, and people like me should never forget that.
And I conclude with Claude Mostowik MSC: “Bartimaeus tries to survive within a marginalised system because of his blindness. Jesus is on his way to overturn tables in the Temple to protest a system that impoverishes and marginalises… and is going to flip the tables of an economic, social, political and religious system that privileges a few at the expense of many… We see that the politics of Jesus includes transforming systems and lives through love, the radical embrace of others and compassion that leads to action. He invites us to follow him in working for a more just and merciful world.”
So we are called to see with the eyes of faith, like Bartimaeus, and to follow Jesus along the continuing path of discipleship.
john hannon 27th October 2024