[Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 125; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52]

For the past few weeks, we have heard accounts from the 10th Chapter of St Mark’s Gospel. We heard about the rich man who knew the laws, lived by them but could not give up his earthly riches to follow Jesus. Last week we heard two of the disciples; who had given up everything to follow Jesus; ask for better seats when they join Jesus in His Kingdom. This week we hear about Bartimaeus, a bling beggar, who wants to see again.

In a similar way to a few weeks ago; when the disciples tried to stop little children from approaching Jesus; the people tried to silence Bartimaeus.  But he would not be silenced.  He persisted in crying out to Jesus for pity.  His prayer was answered when Jesus stopped and called Bartimaeus towards him.  Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” The reply was “Master, let me see again.”   Contrast this request with the request from James and John which we heard last week.  Bartimaeus had his desire met; because it had the correct focus.  Bartimaeus demonstrated faith in Jesus by asking to be healed.  James and John were looking for personal glory (Mark 10:35-37).  Before Bartimaeus was healed he bore witness to Jesus by calling him Master, after he was healed, he bore witness to Jesus by following Him.

The encounter with Bartimaeus is a model for our petitionary prayer. First, we call out to Jesus, we acknowledge Him as our Lord and Saviour. Bartimaeus called out to Jesus “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” Just like the crowd tried to silence Bartimaeus, we need to silence the doubts in our head; we need to ignore those who say that prayer is a waste of time. We then cast off our pride like Bartimaeus; he threw down his cloak, acknowledging that we cannot do whatever our request is under our own power; we need His help. Next, we approach Jesus with courage and faith, that He can grant our request. When we know and recognise that we are in the presence of the Lord, we make our request; we then go away and continue to follow Jesus. The results may not always be as immediate as they were for Bartimaeus, but Jesus does answer every single prayer, and as we heard last week sometimes the answer is no.

On our recent pilgrimage to Medjugorje, two of our fellow pilgrims asked us to pray for two young men who were critically ill following accidents, within 24 hours we heard of progress in both cases. The families involved say their prayers have been answered and are grateful for the prayers said in Medjugorje for their sons. They both still have a long way to go and still need prayers, so if please remember Augustin and George in your prayers.

In the second reading we hear from St Paul that every priest has been called by God. St Paul reminds us that they make offerings for our sins and for their own sins. The only priest never to have sinned is Jesus and He is the high priest nominated by the Father. This is a reminder for us to pray for our priests who serve us despite their imperfections, we should never place them on a pedestal, but we need to pray for them as they pray for us and lead us in our worship.

The reading from Jeremiah heralds the Gospel used today, where it says “I will gather them all, the blind and the lame.  I will comfort them as I lead them back, I will guide them to streams of water”.  Jesus calls all of us to Baptism in the New Covenant; leading us to streams of water, the source of life itself.  Bartimaeus removed his cloak as if he was preparing for Baptism, he was ready to follow Jesus as he asked him to have mercy upon him.  As we ask for mercy at every Mass when we say, ‘Lord have mercy,’ are we ready to be granted mercy?  Are we ready to follow Jesus as Bartimaeus did?

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 547-550: Jesus performed messianic signs
CCC 1814-1816: faith, a gift of God
CCC 2734-2737: filial confidence in prayer

Please keep in your prayers this week

  • The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
  • Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
  • The continued success of the Christians Against Poverty [CAP] money coaching programme, in the pastoral area.
  • The fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
  • Harrison, Dominic, George, Sofie and Chiamara who will be baptised at St Bede’s this Sunday.

Deacon Tony

26th October 2024