Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

30^th Sunday of the Year, B – October 28, 2018.

Readings: Jer. 31:7-9; Ps 125:1-6; Hebrews 5:1-6; 

Gospel – Mark 10:46-52.

Theme: A Faith That Saves!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today the Church gives us another opportunity to reflect on faith. Our reflection titled “A Faith that Saves” is premised on the message of restoration and total recovery in the first reading, the assurance of a high priest who empathizes with us inthe second reading and the encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus the blind beggar in the gospel. To do justice to our homiletic theme, we shall take a look at the background and summary of the readings, pastoral application and practical lessons as well as homiletic points to remember.

Background & Summary of the Readings

In the first reading (Jer. 31:7-9), the Prophet Jeremiah presents us with the message of hope. He assures that notwithstanding the violence and traumaJudah suffered as a result of the destruction of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon, there is hope. His radical articulation of hope becomes a roadmap for survival. In a classical fashion, the Prophet highlights a glorious homecoming, stunning restoration and renewed relationships for the people. Although the “remnant of Israel” namely its survivors experiencedsuffering and marginality, the Prophet maintains that God would redeem his people from their troubles. 

The second from the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 5:1-6) reveals Jesus as the heavenly High Priest who pleads our course. The first part of the text gives the definition of who a priest is and the criteria for being a priest while the second part shows how Christ meets these criteria. It reveals that he offers sacrifices for his sins and the sins of the community especially on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - the annual ritual where the High Priest atones for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16). The reading presents Jesus as that sinless sympathetic and empathetic High Priest who shows solidarity with sinners.This is why a priest ought to identify with sinners because he himself is subject to weakness.

The reading also connects Jesus’ Priesthood to that of Melchizedek. While the regular Jewish priestswere from the tribe of Levi, Jesus comes from the tribe of Judah. To strike a balance, it was necessary for the personage Melchizedekto provide an alternative priesthoodwhich will be basis for the Messiah to be identified as a High Priest, notwithstanding his Non-Levitical ancestry – this means that Christ is a priest “forever,” thus revealing Christ's immortal post-resurrection status which provides a contrast with the mortality of the Levitical Priests.

The Gospel reading (Mark 10:46-52) discloses the encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus in which the blind beggar was healed. It reveals how the beggar defied the crowd to beg Jesus for healing. The reading stated that he addressed Christ as, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” It notes how Jesus ordered the same crowd who tried to shut him up to call him. When Jesus asked him what he wanted, he said, he wanted his sight back. Jesus then commanded and his sight was restored. We are told that he decided to follow Jesus along the road.

Pastoral Application & Practical Lessons

1.Restoration: Just as our first reading spoke about theglorious homecoming, stunning restoration and renewed relationships for the people of Israel, God is able to restore the “years eaten by locust” in our lives if we trust him.

2. Empathy: The message of the second reading which presents Jesus as a sinless sympathetic and empathetic High Priest who shows solidarity with sinnerscalls us to learn from our Lord and Master by identifying with sinners and the vulnerable so as bring them the love of Christ the wounded healer who came not to be served to but serve and give his life as a ransom for many(Matthew 20:28).  

3. Faith:In Bartimaeus, we find the finest expression of faith. The blind man’s faith was active because while he was physically blind, he saw by faith. Little wonder the scripture says, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Those of us who are suffering from one terminal ailment or the other are urged to look up in faith to Jesus who is able to do much more than we can ask or imagine(Ephesians 3:20).

4. Royalty: By addressing Jesus as the “Son of David,” he introduced the title of Royalty or Kingship which would later be expressed during his entry into Jerusalem (Mk 11:1-10), trial (Mk 15:1-15) and death (Mk 15:16-32). We need God’s Holy Spirit to guide our perception of him as the Lord of our lives whose kingship over us is able to address our needs as mere mortals. 

5.Obedience: Be throwing off his cloak and jumping up to meet Jesus in obedience, the blind beggar was not only doubly sure that he would regain his sight but quite certain of the scripture which says, “obedience is better than sacrifice”(1 Samuel 15:22).We are challenged to obey Jesus’ summon by doing the will of God.

6. Hope: That blind Bartimaeus looked forward to a day he would be healed meant that he was always hopeful. Apparently, he believed that God was not done with him yet. He was convinced that one day, he would see again. It was that unwavering hope that got him the miracle of his lifetime. Just so, Christians are tasked not to lose hope in life as a result of sickness, hunger, unemployment or other trials. 

7. Persistence:The persistence of Bartimaeus added substance to his bold expression of faith. This is becausehe never gave naysayers the chance to rob him of the golden opportunity to get his sight back. We are challenged to always remember that our endurance will win us our lives. 

8. Condition: He didn’t allow his condition to “condition him.” Rather, he looked beyond his immediate predicament and found the miracle he wanted. We are encouraged not to allow our past or present condition to determine the beautiful plan God has for us.

9. Love: To demonstrate his love for Jesus, after he regained his sight, the blind man did not go away. This shows that his love was deep. Indeed, he was looking for not mere physical miracle. This was why he became a missionary after he received his sight by following Jesus. Like Bartimaeus, Christians are charged to develop an enduring kind of love so as discern that Jesus is both a merciful saviourand a compassionate healer.

10. Appreciation: Unlike the 9 lepers who did not return to give thanks (Lk. 17:11-19),Bartimaeus kept following Jesus to offer his life as a form of thanksgiving to God for a miracle received. We are equally charged to always return thanks to God through offering thanksgiving Mass for favours received. We must resist every temptation to turn our backs on Jesus when he blesses us. 

Homiletic Points to Remember

1. The Prophet Jeremiah presents us with the message that after the violence and concomitant trauma on Judah as a result of the destruction of Jerusalem and exile to Babylon, there is hope.

2. The second from the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 5:1-6) reveals Jesus as the heavenly High Priest who pleads our course.

3. The Gospel reading (Mark 10:46-52) discloses the encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus in which the blind beggar was healed.

4. In Bartimaeus we find the finest expression of faith.

5. That blind Bartimaeus looked forward to a day he would be healed meant that he was always hopeful.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our liturgy calls us to develop an enduring faith which saves. Just as blind Bartimaeus took a leap of faith, we are charged to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the daily event of our lives. Since God is able to redeem us from our many troubles and tribulations, we ought to look up to no other than him. As an eternal priest, he is able to sympathize and empathize with us in our weaknesses by extending the miracle he granted unto the blind beggar to us. May God continue to grant us “a lively faith animated by charity” through Christ our Lord. Amen!