October 25, 2015
Sunday
30th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Jer 31:7-9
2nd Reading: Heb 5:1-6
Gospel: Mk 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he began to call out, “Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!” Many people scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man saying, “Take heart. Get up, he is calling you.” He immediately threw aside his cloak, jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man said, “Master, let me see again!” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” And immediately he could see, and he followed Jesus along the road.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
The story of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46 – 52) is also found in Matthew 20:29-34 and Luke 18:35-43. Mark tells us that after the miraculous restoration of sight, Bartimaeus “followed Jesus along the road.” We know that this road led to Calvary. It was a figurative description of how Bartimaeus became an active disciple – so active that Mark deemed it appropriate to make him stand out in his Gospel account by explaining that his name means “son of Timaeus”.
In the account of Matthew (Matt. 20:29-34) Bartimaeus had another blind companion who also received back his sight. But only Bartimaeus followed Jesus along the road. Being able to see becomes more meaningful when one rediscovers the path that leads to the light.
After narrating the incident of the healing of Bartimaeus, all three evangelists begin the Holy Week account. How symbolic! A spiritually blind person will never understand the crucifixion. To the spiritually blind, the Calvary experience of Jesus was a defeat, a failure of divine wisdom, a sign that God succumbed to the power of death.
While none of us consider Jesus’ death at Calvary as a defeat, most of us are reluctant to “follow him along the road” to suffering and death. We may not be blind. But if Calvary is not attractive to our sight, what advantage does “not-being-blind” bring to our spiritual lives? —Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org.
CHURCH BULLETIN:
SAINT OF THE DAY: ST. GAUDENTIUS OF BRESCIA, Bishop. He was born in Brescia, Italy (4th century). On the death of Bishop Philastrius, he was elected as his successor even in absentia. He governed his diocese with prudence and humility. He died in 410.
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