Sirach 42:15-25, Mark 10:46-52, Psalm 33:2-9

Daily Mass Readings:  Sirach 42:15-25, Mark 10:46-52, Psalm 33:2-9

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Sirach 42:15-25

Beloved, how often we forget that You alone are the Creator, Master and Lord of everything.  All Your work is created in wisdom and has the stamp of Your authority.  No creature no matter how intelligent has been able to penetrate the mysteries of the universe.  You know all things, You see all things, nothing that happens escapes Your notice.  The world and all in it lies open before You.  Your awesome and all powerful Word and Life sustains creation.  

Creatures add nothing nor take away anything from You.  When we glorify You we are filled with joy as we share in Your glory.  No thought or word escapes You and it would us all well to remember this considering the amount of useless words which spew out of our mouths daily.  Everything You have created is filled with Your beauty and Your divine spark is in everything You have created.  

All things are created for a purpose, life endures forever, all must be obedient to Your will or perish.  All things are created in pairs and serves the order You have ordained.  All creation complements and enhances the beauty of all that You have made.  Male and female You have created them this is order, beauty and divinity - all else is anathema to You.


Mark 10:46-52 

This miracle is an eye opener for all of us who are timid and easily cowed by bullies, the strident, and the loud-mouths.  They are people whose fear cheats them from experiencing the power of God and tasting the fruit of faith.  Their lives are full of missed opportunities.  This is not true of the blind beggar from Jericho, Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus.  Can anything like this be said of me?  

Here was a blind beggar who heard about the marvellous signs that Jesus had done in his town.  He was not only a beggar, which means he had no local standing, but to add to his misery and poverty he was physically blind.  Many in Jericho had heard but did not have an experience or a personal encounter with Jesus, this was not true of this man.  He places himself where a meeting with Jesus was possible.  He did not go chasing Jesus hither thither and yon - that would have been a waste of precious time.  But he knew that Jesus had to go by that road as he left Jericho.  So he sat on the road and waited.  His sharp, and sensitive ears picked up the sound of the crowd that was soon to pass his way.  His heart began a slow and steady drumbeat in keeping with his mounting excitement, as the sound advanced nearer.  Once it was confirmed that it was in fact Jesus who was passing by he raised Cain.  

He shouted as loud as his lungs would permit.  He knew who Jesus was from what he had heard of Him.  This was the Messiah - he did not doubt.  The crowd who were followers and disciples of Jesus looked askance at him and passed a collective judgment, he belonged to the dregs of society. He had no value, he had to be silenced for making a positive nuisance of himself.  He had no rights.  But they were not going to silence him, there were not going to be any missed opportunities for Bartimaeus.  The more they shushed him the louder he shouted and lo and behold - the Master heard the cry of faith above the din of the crowd - a cry that pierced His heart.  He stopped and said, "Call him."  Wow!!  He did not need the invitation to be repeated.  He threw away his one and only priced piece of possession, his cloak, jumped up and went to Jesus.

Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"  Of course the Son of God knew exactly what Bartimaeus wanted but He wanted him to verbalize his need.  "Master, let me see again!"  AGAIN?  This is the first time I noticed this word.  I have read and heard this passage any number of times and I had not picked up on this word.  It means that there was a time that he could see but had lost his sight may be through an illness or an accident..  Jesus responded immediately and generously to his cry.  He acknowledged Bartimaeus' faith and granted him his heart's desire.  The man  was healed of his physical and spiritual blindness and he followed Jesus immediately.  No procrastination for him.  No excuses of burying the dead and getting married, looking after his property, etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum, ad nauseum like most of us do.  He had come full circle.

Jesus did not ask Bartimaeus to follow Him in fact Jesus' exact words were, "Go your way, your faith has made you well.” But wise Bartimaeus knew the pitfalls of going his own way.  We are told, 'Immediately he could see, and he followed ­Jesus along the road.'

He chose to go God's way rather than his own and thus be totally healed.  Glorifying God and witnessing to His power all the days of his life.

Psalm 33:2-9