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30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

October 27, 2024

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

Almighty ever-living God,
increase our faith, hope and charity,
and make us love what you command,
so that we may merit what you promise.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading Jer 31:7-9

Thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel.’ 8 “See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them those who are blind and those who are lame, those with child and those in labour, together; a great company, they shall return here. 9 “With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6

R/. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Second Reading Heb 5:1-6

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; 3 and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Alleluia Cf. 2 Tm 1:10

Gospel Mk 10:46-52

As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately the man regained his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

Catena Nova

How could he not be desirable, he who illumined minds buried in darkness, and endowed with clear vision “the light-bringing eyes” of the soul?... Let us open ourselves to the light, then, and so to God. Let us open ourselves to the light, and become disciples of the Lord.... Let us, then, shake off forgetfulness of truth, shake off the mist of ignorance and darkness that dims our eyes, and contemplate the true God…. For upon us, buried in darkness, imprisoned in the shadow of death, a heavenly light has shone, a light of a clarity surpassing the sun’s, and of a sweetness exceeding any this earthly life can offer. That light is eternal life, and those who receive it live…. Unfailing light has penetrated everywhere, and sunset has turned into dawn. This is the meaning of the new creation; for the Sun of Righteousness, pursuing his course through the universe, visits all alike, in imitation of his Father, “who makes his sun rise upon all,” and bedews everyone with his truth. (St. Clement of Alexandria).

What could the Word of God, the eternal splendor of God’s being, not penetrate and fill? Christ illuminates even the hidden mind even though the sun can’t penetrate there. Christ penetrates the soul and illuminates it as with the brightness of eternal light…. Open your windows! Let light fill your entire inward house with a brightness greater than the physical sun can give. Let that inward house shine with the brightness of the True Sun. Open your eyes so you become able to see the Sun of Righteousness that is right here in front of you!! …Throw open the windows of your life so that love may shine out of you and enlighten everyone around you in just the way Christ himself let his light shine on you and opened the eyes of Bartimaeus. (St. Ambrose of Milan).

What is it that makes the “eyes of the heart” able to receive the gracious gift of seeing God? It is love. The pure of heart are those who love the Lord with all their lives and strength and heart. How are we made able to love God so totally? We are changed little by little as we “see” God in others and respond to them with a love like the love of our Lord Jesus. The eyes of your heart are opened first by the faith that Christ is in all whom God has chosen to become “God’s own”. We learn to see this as our faith grows strong. But we don’t only see it; we respond by loving others as we want to love Our Lord. Then our eyes begin to become strong enough to see God. It is the ability to see God in others and love God in others that makes our heart’s eyes able to see God. (St. Augustine of Hippo).

I saw that truly nothing happens by accident or luck, but everything by God’s wise providence. If it seems to be accident or luck from our point of view, our blindness and lack of foreknowledge is the cause; for matters that have been in God’s foreseeing wisdom since before time began befall us suddenly, all unawares; and so in our blindness and ignorance we say that this is accident or luck, but to our Lord God it is not so.... For here we are so blind and foolish that we never seek God until he, of his goodness, shows himself to us. It is when we do see something of him by his grace that we are stirred by that same grace to seek him, and with earnest longing to see still more of his blessedness. So I saw him and sought him; I had him and wanted him. It seems to me that this is and should be an experience common to us all (Julian of Norwich).

I see him in slow-motion
Leaping to his feet
Then leaping again
Blindly through
The parting crowd
His mantle soaring above them
Like a sail
That one thing necessary
-warmth, shelter -
Thrown to the wind
For one dim risk.

I never liked the phrase
“Leap of Faith.”
(It's not quite what the
Philosopher meant,
Nevertheless the
Idea fixed itself in the
Christian Mind).

Why not reason your way
Gently to the other side? Or
Build a bridge of solid,
Logical beams? Or
Ask some adept beyond to
Weave a ladder of wisdom
To toss across the chasm,
And that way you could peer into
The Abyss safely while you pass over?
Or, if you are squeamish, take your
Ponderous way around the rift?

Bartimaeus, not taking time to think,
Leaps into the quickly passing moment.

And what of the abandoned garment?
I want to know. Did some
Thoughtful person take up the cloak
And carry it for him along the way
Knowing the once-blind man would
Need it again in the dark days to come?

Or, did Bartimaeus let his mantle fall
To the ground, leaving it for the next
Beggar waiting along the roadside? (Søren Kierkegaard)

Annoyed, people try to make [the blind man] be quiet, but he cries out all the louder. At this point, Jesus stops, summons him, and asks him what he wants. Now comes the single and unique wish: To be able to see! His longing for light is part of what causes Jesus to grant the healing, which in turn makes it possible for the man to follow him ....This means that the light is no more in our power than the sun, which recurrently disappears from sight, is within our power. The Lord does not abandon us, but we dare not stop whenever we want to and hold onto him, as if he were our possession. As long as we keep following the Light never leaves us behind (Hans Urs von Balthasar).

Jesus asks his disciples to go and call Bartimaeus. They address the blind man with two expressions, which only Jesus uses in the rest of the Gospel. First they say to him: “Take heart!”, which literally means “have faith, strong courage!”. Indeed, only an encounter with Jesus gives a person the strength to face the most difficult situations. The second expression is “Rise!”, as Jesus said to so many of the sick, whom he took by the hand and healed. His disciples do nothing other than repeat Jesus’ encouraging and liberating words, leading him directly to Jesus, without lecturing him. Jesus’ disciples are called to this, even today, especially today: to bring people into contact with the compassionate Mercy that saves. When humanity’s cry, like Bartimaeus’, becomes stronger still, there is no other response than to make Jesus’ words our own and, above all, imitate his heart. (Pope Francis).

Homily

Anyone who has lived abroad knows it’s not easy getting used to a different culture, its customs and language, making new friends. It’s a kind of exile, away from all that’s near and dear. A lot of the Bible is about exile too, when the Jews were driven from the Promised Land by foreign powers and made to dwell apart -- the captives of Zion (RP). Indeed, if not for this event we’d have far less of the Bible than we do, like the passage from Jeremiah we just heard or the psalm we just sang, both of which come from a time of exile.

Christians too might well experience exile. For the followers of Jesus, immersed in his death and resurrection, similar moments can happen when the Christian journey feels like exile: moments when we, like Israel of old, feel alienated from the familiar, no longer “at home” where we once felt comfortable, like we belonged — times when we feel like lamenting over what’s been taken away from us, perhaps with nostalgia for its return, while realizing we can never really go “home.”

Like this past summer when I attended my 50th high school reunion: I had a nice time seeing people I did not recognize (anymore than they recognized me), telling tales out of school, shocked at the number of classmate who've died, and leaving with a wistful feeling, knowing I'm not likely to see any of these people ever again, how "homecoming" is really a misnomer.

Now feeling exiled can be triggered by lots of things: a personal crisis, a loss of some kind, a divorce, the death of a loved one, moving away, a new job, illness, mid-life, retirement; perhaps a new relationship, a new vision of oneself, or of God. And exile is not just something personal. It happens often enough to large swaths of people. Just ask the people of Gaza. Or Ukraine. Or Sudan. Or Syria. Or Armenia. Half this country will face an internal, political, exile whoever wins the presidential election. Many feel the same about the church. Wondering whether we still “belong” anyplace, feeling as though something once precious and reliable has been taken from us and, with ruins abounding.

So exile is no easy time -- or place -- to be, whether personally or collectively. It might seem like we’ve been abandoned, forgotten, left to our own devices, even by God. In exile, we might even feel God is punishing us, that somehow we’re under God’s judgment. And with our vision dimmed, we cry out with blind Bartimaeus, Let me see again (G).

Which is why in moments like these we need a prophet, someone like Jeremiah, to speak a word of encouragement to us: someone to speak God’s word of assurance to us: Behold, I will bring [you] back…I will gather [you]…. [You] departed in tears, but I will console [you] and guide[you]; I will lead [you] to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble (cf. I). In other words, someone who will tell us we’ll come through the crisis: changed no doubt, transformed even, by our time away, but we shall return. We need someone to tell us the barrenness of our desert will blossom one day with new life, that a way will open before us in the desert, which even now God is preparing.

Such prophets can help us see with new eyes, hear with new ears, love with new hearts, and help us abandon the false idols we’d been worshipping. In other words, ready us for resettling, even though what we return to may look very different from what we left behind, and in need of considerable rebuilding.

We also need others who share our experience, who've joined us in a “community of exiles.” For when we’re feeling quite alone, when all around us appears strange, when no place feels like home, and we’re cast into doubt about the future -- communities of hope, resistance, and renewal are more important than ever.

For despite its darkness, exile awaits an end, as when the Lord restored their fortunes like the torrents in the southern desert. When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion [and their] mouths was filled with laughter and [their] tongue with rejoicing (cf. RP). As it was for Jesus too, whom God glorified, making him high priest, after he was beset with weakness (cf. II). Who lives and reigns, forever and ever. Amen.

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)

For the Church: that we may passionately and continuously call out to Christ for our needs and courageously follow Jesus on the way of life.

For those searching for God: that their eyes and hearts may be opened to the many manifestations of God's love for them.

For spiritual insight: that God will help us recognize God’s presence in our lives, the significance of our relationships, and God’s invitations to love and service.

For all whose attention is fixed on the allurements of wealth, power, and prestige: that God will reveal to them their call to discipleship and the opportunities that God presents to use their gifts.

For all who are blinded by prejudice: that God will enlighten their hearts and help them recognize the value and dignity of each person.

For all who are ill, particularly those with diseases of the eyes: that God will bring healing and renewal to them in body, mind, and spirit.

For greater respect for God’s work of creation: that we may be mindful that all the earth is God’s gift to us and that it is entrusted to our stewardship.

For the guidance of the Holy Spirit: that God’s people may listen closely to God as the synod seeks to renew and deepen the mission of the Church.

Have pity on us, God our Saviour. Grant us grace and courage to cast off our sins and turn to you for healing. Show us in Christ the sure path of salvation and strengthen us to follow gladly in the way of the gospel. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Chant

Offertory Hymn

Shout for joy! with cries of gladness

Gather those who are dispersed.

Here the blind are given vision,

Here the comfortless find mirth.

In his faith, blind Bartimaeus

Shouted out his need to see.

Jesus, Light from Light, restored him,

Gave him sight and set him free.

Each of us, in our baptism,

Has received the gift of sight

Through the Christ, our high priest Jesus:

Filled with joy, we seek God’s light!

Communion Antiphon

Closing Hymn(John Henry Newman)

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom,
lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
the distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will: remember not past years!

So long thy power hath blessed me, sure it still
will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

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