| Homily
for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time: October 29,
2006
Given by the Most
Reverend Stephen E. Blaire at the Cathedral of the Annunciation
in Stockton.
Each year my eyesight gets a little worse. Every
time I go to the eye doctor I need stronger lenses to come
up to 20/20 vision. Bartimeus, of course, could not see at
all. While many people are completely blind to the presence
of God, most of us have weaknesses in regard to seeing the
truth of God in our lives. We do not always see how our actions
can hurt others. We do not always consider how violating the
moral laws of
God might hurt us in our development as human beings. We are
not always mindful of crossing boundaries in our behavior
which disrespects others by our words or actions. We can be
indulgent, selfish and unfair. We could even go through the
day never thinking of God, acting as though God did not exist.
So the prayer of Bartimeus is easily our prayer.
“Master, I want to see.” I want to gaze on Jesus
with the eyes of faith. “Jesus told him, ‘Go your
way; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he received
his sight and followed him on the way.”
If we have faith; if we believe, we will see.
That is not to say that we will never sin again, but it does
mean that we understand by faith that Christ lives in us,
as St. Paul says, and that we live our human lives with faith
in the Son of God.
It means that as I live my life I take into
account that “whatever you do for the least of my brothers
and sisters, you do for me.”
It means that I take into account that Jesus
did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it.
“Love God with all your heart and soul, with all your
mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
It means that I take into account, “If
you wish to be perfect, go sell what you own, give to the
poor and follow me.”
We cannot ignore any of the teachings of Jesus.
We have to apply the gospel message in our own lives, in our
own circumstances, in accord with our own responsibilities,
in our own relationships. The gospel is not a literal law
to be observed but rather a message of God to be received
and lived in an authentic way according to our place in life.
Not everyone is Mother Theresa or St. Francis of Assisi. But
each of us is called to be a follower of Christ. “Take
courage,” the church says in the words of Jesus, “
get up, Jesus is calling you.”
“Master, I want to see.” “Immediately
he received his sight and followed Him on the way.”
Last Update October 29, 2006
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