By Fr. Andrew Kelly
30TH SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – OCT. 28
Last Sunday (Mark 10:35-45) and again this Sunday (Mark 10:46-52), Jesus asks the believing community:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
Last Sunday believers wanted power and domination. All Jesus could offer was Jesus’ cup of suffering and Jesus’ baptism of death and resurrection.
This week Bartimaeus simply asks:
“My teacher, let me see again.”
The contrast of requests is both startling and embarrassing.
The disciples who see are blind as to who Jesus is. They cannot see the cup of suffering and the baptism of death and resurrection.
The blind man knows and believes in who Jesus is:
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.”
The “way” of Jesus is what the blind man saw and was willing to risk — all for the gift of seeing Jesus.
The blind man saw the cup of suffering and the baptism of death and resurrection “…and followed him on the way.”
Apparently that was enough.
Is Jesus’ cup and baptism enough for a 2012 community? Or is there still blindness and dependency upon power and domination?
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for Oct. 28 to Nov. 4
Sunday
Jer 31:7-9
Heb 5:1-6
Mk 10:46-52
Monday
Eph 4:32-5:8
Lk 13:10-17
Tuesday
Eph 5:21-33 or Eph 5:2a, 25-32
Lk 13:18-21
Wednesday
Lk 13:18-21
Lk 13:22-30
Thursday
Rv 7:2-4, 9-14
1 Jn 3:1-3
Mt 5:1-12a
Friday
Wis 3:1-9
Rom 5:5-11 or Rom 6:3-9
Jn 6:37-40
Saturday
Phil 1:18b-26
Lk 14:1, 7-11
Sunday
Dt 6:2-6
Heb 7:23-28
Mk 12:28b-34