Phil

Oct 24, 20215 min read

SPIRITUAL MASS

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B.

✠ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

For we have sinned against you.

Show us, O Lord, your mercy.

And grant us your salvation.

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins,

and bring us to everlasting life.

COLLECT: Almighty ever-living God,

increase our faith, hope and charity,

and make us love what you command,

so that we may merit what you promise.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

GOSPEL: Mark 10:46-52 As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.’ So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbuni,’ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.

HOMILY Blind Bartimaeus will not stop yelling for Jesus to have pity on him,

until Jesus finally calls for him.

Jesus asks him what seems like the dumbest question:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

What on earth would anybody suppose Bartimaeus wants? He’s blind!

Here we need to notice what Bartimaeus actually says to Jesus in answer to Jesus’ question to him. Bartimaeus does not say to Jesus, “I want my sight.”

He says, “I want to see.”

Wanting to see is wanting to know the true nature of reality,

hidden in one way from a person when he is blind.

Once we see what Bartimaeus asks for, the funny parts of the story make more sense. When Jesus calls Bartimaeus to himself,

he gives Bartimaeus a small period of time to consider what he really wants

before Jesus asks him.

Seeing isn’t limited to seeing the blue of the sky or the road to home.

It is also a matter of seeing the truth about things,

or even of seeing the Truth himself.

So Jesus gives Bartimaeus all that he asks for.

Bartimaeus sees not only the world around him but also his Lord.

And in seeing Jesus, Bartimaeus accepts the Giver together with the gift of sight. Although Jesus gives Bartimaeus the option of going away,

Bartimaeus stays by Jesus and follows him.

Bartimaeus came to Jesus and he saw the Lord,

because seeing was what he really wanted.

And that’s why Jesus tells him that his faith has saved him.

Professor Eleanor Stump, St. Louis Catholic University

I PRAY……

For those searching for God: that their eyes and hearts may be opened to the many manifestations of God's love for them

For all whose attention is fixed on the allurements of wealth, power, and prestige: that God will reveal to them their call to discipleship and the opportunities that God presents to use their gifts

For a listening and sensitive heart: that we may never ignore nor try to silence those who cry out in pain or seek our assistance

For all who are blinded by prejudice: that God will enlighten their hearts and help them recognize the value and dignity of each person

For all who are ill, particularly those with diseases of the eyes: that God will bring healing and renewal to them in body, mind, and spirit

For greater reverence for human life, particularly for those advanced in years or dealing with long-term infirmities: that we may affirm their dignity and support them with love and encouragement

For all who have been bullied or tormented by others: that God will comfort and strengthen them and renew their sense of dignity

For world leaders: that their gathering on climate change will outline new paths for protecting the earth for future generations

For freedom from fear: that God will free us from the fears that hold us from loving, forgiving, and serving so that we may be dynamic disciples.

Jesus,

We are begging for sight.

We want to “see” our way to the end of the virus,

to see how to end the climate crisis;

to end racial injustice; human trafficking and poverty.

Son of David, have pity on us.

Give us Bartimaeus’ faith and his sight.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

In union, O Dear Lord, with the faithful at every Altar of Your Church, where Your blessed Body and Blood are being offered to the Father, I desire to offer You praise and thanksgiving. I present to You my soul and body, with the earnest wish that I may ever be united to You. And since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, I beseech You to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to You, and embrace You with all the affections of my soul. O let nothing ever separate me from You. Let me live and die in Your love. Amen.

Grant, O Lord Jesus Christ, that as the hem of Your garment, touched in faith, healed the woman who could not touch Your Body, so the soul of Your servant may be healed by like faith in You, Whom I cannot now sacramentally receive; through Your tender mercy, Who lives and reigns with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit ever one God. Amen.

Lord, you stand at the door of my heart and knock.

You wait for me, and only I can let you in.

I believe and trust in you

and ask you now

to fill me with presence.

Feed me with your body

and unite me in your blood,

that I may be your blessing

to a world in need.

BLESSING

May God,

who began the good work within you,