Fr. Rick’s Homily: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 27, 2024
Jer 31:7-9; Ps 126:1-6; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52
World Mission Sunday Collection Today…
The Eucharistic prayer today will remind us that living in Truth requires us to read the signs of our times through the light of our faith. We should be able to identify the repeating patterns of the Bible and subsequent Church history that remind us of what events and tendencies are transpiring in our times. We have the same God and we are the same species, just different circumstances, all of which have to be interpreted through God’s plan of Salvation. God is still calling us, still pursuing us, and we are either responding to God or avoiding God. Our baptism places us in a covenant relationship with God. Whenever there is a breakdown in our relationship, it is never God’s fault.
All the problems we are facing in our personal lives, our families our neighborhoods, our Church, our nation and in the world are ultimately spiritual problems. They can only be solved by starting with God’s plan for us and measuring our level of faithfulness. Our problems are ultimately not psychological, sociological, or political and cannot be solved by secular or political experts or authority. Secular professions may very well have an important role in solving problems, but if we don’t start with God’s plan and God’s order for the world, we will always be left with distortion, disorder and confusion.
In this political season we are hearing much about the fragile state of our democracy and ultimately our freedom. Believe what you want about the accuracy of those statements. The loss of freedom will come from the loss of Truth and we cannot rely on civil authorities to be the main bearers of the Truth. That’s the role of the Church.
Politicians should be exceptional negotiators and diplomats who represent the will of a people whose lives revolve first and foremost around God and the Church He has established.
The first reading today can help us with some direction for reading the signs of our times through the light of faith. Even while looking honestly at the challenges of our times and the correctives necessary, we are also assured of the reason for HOPE. God’s mercy and God’s plan.
We know from our past studies of Salvation history, the prophet Jeremia was sent to Judah, the southern kingdom, as a final warning around 590 BC. If they continued to worship the false gods of their neighbors, failed to take care of the most vulnerable among them and failed to follow the commandments, they would lose their identity, their freedom and ultimately their nation. In 587 that’s exactly what happened. Most of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah is the story of this dire warning and the resistance of a very confused and stiff-necked people. But today’s passage from Chapter 31 is part of a passage which some scholars call the Book of Consolation.
Unlike the rest of the book, here Jeremiah actually turns his attention to the future after the destruction and punishment of Judah. There, in the future beyond his lifetime, he foresees a restoration of peace and of the loving relationship between God and all the tribes of Israel. Recall that in about 920 BC the 12 Tribes of Israel split apart and 10 tribes went north and 2 tribes went south. The norther tribes weakened more quickly and fell to the Assyrians in about 721 BC for the same reasons as the southern Kingdom fell. In today’s reading God promised, “I will bring them back from the land of the north.”
Later in chapter 31, in verses not included in today’s reading, is the only passage in the Old Testament to use the exact term ‘New Covenant’ to describe the restoration that God will bring about. Not just the southern kingdom, but all the 12 Tribes of Israel and ultimately all the peoples of the earth.
Within a scenario where one could only see destruction and suffering for the next generation or two, Jeremiah has this premonition of a great restoration. Despite his reluctance to be God’s prophet under such tenuous circumstances, his faithfulness allowed him to hear God’s message of hope amongst all the other doom and gloom.
Today’s psalm 126, “The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.” This psalm was written after the exile from the Babylonian desert. God’s punishment served to make the people stronger and to redirect their attention to God’s plan and not that of the imposter kings and false prophets. The same will be true for our times. If we are faithful to God’s call in our particular circumstances, we will also hear the messages of consolation that don’t seem to be coming from any of our secular experts. It’s hard to look around the world and feel confident that we have exactly the right people in the right place to solve the many serious problems.
Our vision as humans is notoriously small and undependable. Here is where we can take a strong lesson from today’s gospel. The blind man knows that he is blind and tells Jesus very plainly that he wants to see. He knows he’s blind and he wants to see. This is one of the great human predicaments. Do we actually know that we are blind and would we actually want to see REALITY if we were blind?
God is always giving us the choice. He doesn’t force truth upon us. After the blind man is cured, Jesus tells him “Go your way, your faith has saved you.” Interestingly, Bartimaeus receives his sight and does not want to go his own way, but rather wants to follow Jesus. He wants to follow THE WAY. Jesus is THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. Not one of many options.
Today many of us come to Mass with the need for better vision. Things might seem very dark in different parts of our lives. Jesus is always with us and ready to give us the hope that we need to continue on with our part of God’s plan for salvation. As we begin to adjust to the new light, which could be a little painful in the beginning, we will see the many signs of God’s presence and mercy all around us. HE’s always been here and always will be. How much do we really want to see?
Please consider some reflection questions that can also be found in today’s bulletin.
Homily Reflection Questions:
- Given the incredibly dark days of Jeremiah’s mission, how could he possibly feel any sense of consolation? How and when would the actual fruits of this consolation be realized? (see above)
2. Ps. 126:3 ‘The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.’
What great things has the Lord done for you so that you were still able to experience joy despite living through a dark period? We could ask the same question as a nation.
3. Mk. 10:48 ‘Many rebuked (the blind man) telling him to be silent.’
When were you rebuked for your faith in Jesus? When might you have rebuked someone else for their faith in Jesus?
4. Mk. 10:52 ‘Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. ‘
After receiving a healing or favor from Jesus, how did that affect the rest of your life? Did you go your own way or follow THE WAY?