October 28, 2018 - That I Might See

The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time  -  B

Background image used in imagery is courtesy of Pexels.com

Reading I:  Jeremiah 31: 7-9

Psalm:  126

Reading II:  Hebrews 5: 1-6

Gospel:  Mark 10: 46-62

In today’s Gospel we hear of Bartimaeus, a blind man with deep insight and faith. Daily, he would sit by the roadside begging for the basic necessities of life. One day, he heard people nearby saying that Jesus, the compassionate miracle worker, was going to pass by. Bartimaeus had heard stories about this man from the line of David who was “going about doing good.” 

Suddenly, his heart was filled with hope and he called out to Jesus. The bystanders were telling him to be quiet, but his heart was bursting with joyful anticipation. Surely, if he could get Jesus’ attention, he would help him out of his terrible situation. Jesus would understand how difficult it was to daily sit begging, subject to being ridiculed or ignored by those who were blessed with sight and good health.

Calling out all the louder, Bartimaeus was finally heard by Jesus who told a bystander to call Bartimaeus to Him. The man told Bartimaeus, “Take courage, get up, Jesus is calling you.” Bartimaeus threw off his cloak and went hastily to Jesus. Jesus asked him “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man pleaded: “Master, I want to see.” Jesus recognizing the trusting heart of Bartimaeus responded: “Go your way, your faith has saved you.” 

After the blind man was given his sight, unlike some others whom Jesus had cured, Bartimaeus became a follower of Jesus. I can picture him as being a joyful, grateful man and a very zealous evangelizer. What a privilege was his to share his knowledge and love of Jesus with others!

There are many kinds of blindness, sometimes not even recognized by people. Studies have been done which indicate that we do not see ourselves as other people do. Surely, we cannot see ourselves as God does.

If we want to true followers of Jesus, it is important to know how He sees us so that we can strive to be the kind of person He desires us to be. The cry of Bartimaeus needs to be our plea also: “Master, that I may see!” However, that requires courage. We need to ask our Divine Potter for that courage.

We are totally dependent on our Divine Potter since we need His help to even begin to become the person he calls us to be. Nevertheless, with such a merciful and loving Potter, we can trust that he will carefully mold us, smoothing out the rough spots. What he asks of us is to completely surrender ourselves into his loving hands.


  Reflection Question:    Do you feel resistance to seeing yourself as God sees you?  If so, ask him for the courage you need.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Que yo pueda ver

En el Evangelio de hoy escuchamos a Bartimeo, un hombre ciego con profunda percepción y fe. Diariamente, se sentaba al lado de la carretera rogando por las necesidades básicas de la vida. Un día, escuchó a personas cercanas que decían que Jesús, el obrador de milagros compasivo, iba a pasar. Bartimeo había escuchado historias sobre este hombre de la línea de David que estaba “haciendo el bien”.

De repente, su corazón se llenó de esperanza y llamó a Jesús. Los transeúntes le decían que se callara, pero su corazón estaba lleno de alegre anticipación. Seguramente, si pudiera atraer la atención de Jesús, lo ayudaría a salir de su terrible situación. Jesús entendería lo difícil que era sentarse a rogar diariamente, sujeto a ser ridiculizado o ignorado por aquellos que fueron bendecidos con la vista y la buena salud.

Llamando en voz más alta, Bartimeo finalmente fue escuchado por Jesús, quien le dijo a un transeúnte que lo llamara. El hombre le dijo a Bartimeo: “Anímate, levántate, Jesús te está llamando”. Bartimeo se quitó la capa y se dirigió apresuradamente hacia Jesús. Jesús le preguntó: “¿Qué quieres que haga por ti?” El ciego le suplicó: “Maestro, quiero ver”. Jesús, reconociendo el corazón confiado de Bartimeo, respondió: “Sigue tu camino, tu fe te ha salvado”.

Después de que el ciego fue visto, a diferencia de otros que Jesús había curado, Bartimeo se convirtió en un seguidor de Jesús. Puedo imaginármelo como un hombre alegre, agradecido y un evangelizador muy celoso. ¡Qué privilegio fue para compartir su conocimiento y amor de Jesús con los demás!

Hay muchos tipos de ceguera, a veces ni siquiera reconocidos por las personas. Se han realizado estudios que indican que no nos vemos a nosotros mismos como lo hacen otras personas. Seguramente, no podemos vernos a nosotros mismos como Dios lo hace.

Si queremos ser verdaderos seguidores de Jesús, es importante saber cómo nos ve para que podamos esforzarnos por ser el tipo de persona que desea que seamos. El grito de Bartimeo también debe ser nuestra súplica: “¡Maestro, para que pueda ver!” Sin embargo, eso requiere coraje. Necesitamos pedirle a nuestro Divino Potter ese coraje.

Somos totalmente dependientes de nuestro divino alfarero, ya que necesitamos su ayuda para comenzar a convertirnos en la persona que nos llama a ser. Sin embargo, con un Potter tan misericordioso y amoroso, podemos confiar en que él nos moldeará cuidadosamente, alisando los puntos difíciles. Lo que nos pide es que nos entreguemos por completo en sus manos amorosas.

  Pregunta de reflexión:     ¿Sientes resistencia a verte a ti mismo como Dios te ve? Si es así, pídele el coraje que necesitas.

Trust - August 13,2017

The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time  A



Reading I:  1 Kings19:9a,
                     11-13a
Psalm:  85 

Reading II:  Romans 9:1-5

Gospel:  Matt 14:22-33


In last Sunday’s Gospel, we heard about the Transfiguration of Jesus. The Lord is preparing the disciples to witness the Passion and wants them to be aware of His divinity. In this week’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus appears walking on the sea. Again he is attempting to strengthen the faith of His apostles. They need to know that this holy man who had been with them on a daily basis is more than a human person. They have to realize His divinity also.  

At first the apostles think they are witnessing a ghost. However, Jesus calls out to them: “Take courage. It is I. Be not afraid.”
Characteristically, Peter responds enthusiastically and asks the Lord to let him come to Him over the waters. “Come!” calls Jesus. As long as Peter keeps his eyes focused on the Lord, he is able to walk on the waters, in spite of the roughness of the sea. However, when he takes his eyes off the Lord and sees how the strong winds are whipping up the sea, fear grips him and he feels himself sinking. He then cries out to the Lord: “Save me!”   

How true of many of us also. When things are going well for us, we can feel that we are doing fine and then we take our eyes off the Lord.  However, when trials come, we realize that we need the Lord, and we desperately call out for help. I often marvel at people whose trust is so secure that there is a certain peacefulness in their being, even in traumatic circumstances. 

Like everything else in life, keeping our focus on the Lord in good times as well as difficult ones is a special grace. Let us ask the Lord for the grace to love Him as He deserves to be loved and to trust Him at all times.
               
         “Listen to me, house of Ya’akov,
           all who remain of the house of Israel:
           I have borne you from birth,
           carried you since the womb.
           Till your old age I will be the same —
           I will carry you until your hair is white.
           I have made you, and I will bear you;
          yes, I will carry and save you.”   
                                
                                               - Isaiah 46:3-4

 Reflection:   When do you find it difficult to trust in the Lord?  Ask Him to help you.

Spanish Translation of Reflection Above...

Confianza

   
En el Evangelio del domingo pasado, escuchamos acerca de la Transfiguración de Jesús. El Señor está preparando a los discípulos para presenciar la Pasión y quiere que sean conscientes de Su divinidad. En el Evangelio de esta semana, oímos que Jesús aparece caminando sobre el mar. Nuevamente está tratando de fortalecer la fe de Sus apóstoles. Necesitan saber que este santo hombre que había estado con ellos a diario es más que una persona humana. Tienen que realizar Su divinidad también.

Al principio los apóstoles piensan que están presenciando un fantasma. Sin embargo, Jesús les llama: “Tened coraje. Yo no tengo miedo.” Característicamente, Pedro responde con entusiasmo y pide al Señor que le permita venir a Él sobre las aguas. “¡Ven!”, dice Jesús. Mientras Pedro mantenga los ojos fijos en el Señor, puede caminar sobre las aguas, a pesar de la aspereza del mar. Sin embargo, cuando él saca los ojos del Señor y ve cómo los fuertes vientos están azotando el mar, el miedo lo aprieta y él se siente hundido. Entonces clama al Señor: “¡Sálvame!”

¿Qué tan cierto de muchos de nosotros también. Cuando las cosas nos van bien, podemos sentir que estamos bien y luego quitamos nuestros ojos del Señor. Sin embargo, cuando vienen los juicios, nos damos cuenta de que necesitamos al Señor, y llamamos desesperadamente a pedir ayuda. A menudo me maravillo de las personas cuya confianza es tan segura que hay cierta tranquilidad en su ser, incluso en circunstancias traumáticas.

Como todo lo demás en la vida, mantener nuestra atención en el Señor tanto en los buenos tiempos como en los difíciles es una gracia especial. Pidamos al Señor la gracia de amarlo como merece ser amado y confiar en Él en todo momento.

         “Escúchame, casa de Ya'akov,
           Todos los que quedan de la casa de Israel:
           Te he dado a luz desde el nacimiento,
           Llevado desde el útero.
           Hasta tu vejez seré la misma -
           Te llevaré hasta que tu pelo sea blanco.
           Yo te he hecho, y te llevaré;
          Sí, te llevaré y te salvaré.”   
                                
                                               - Isaías 46:3-4

 Reflexión:   ¿Cuándo te resulta difícil confiar en el Señor? Pídale que le ayude.

June 12, 2016 - The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Forgiving Jesus

Year C:  Reflections on the Gospel of Luke 7:36-50


I have always been touched by the sinful woman's courage.  Propelled by intense love of for Jesus, she ignores the comments and disdainful glances of the Pharisees at Simon's banquet.  She humbly kneels at the feet of her Lord, washes them with her tears, dries them with her hair, gently kisses them, and lovingly anoints them.

Jesus, with great compassion, simply sits there allowing this despised woman to minister to him.  He graciously accepts her demonstration of sorrow and love.  He bends over to place his healing hand on her to reassure her of his love and forgiveness.  He does this  despite the ridicule of the bystanders.  What joy the sinful woman must have felt!  What peace! How she must have cherished this moment for the rest of her life.

How grateful the woman must have felt as he responded to the belittling remarks of the men.  He actually defended her and expressed his appreciation for her great love!  God is grateful for the imperfect love of his creature!!!  How can this be?  He must be absolutely crazy about us weak and sinful humans.That is something we need to pause over, savor, and ponder within our hearts.

                                                              ************

For many years, I and others associated this happening with Mary Magdalene.  However, recent Biblical scholarship does not support this.  The association might have happened because the passage following this story mentions Mary Magdalene as being among the women following and supporting Jesus out of their own resources.  The mention of demons being driven out of her could well mean an illness.  At the time, illnesses were often viewed as possession by demons.  Jesus attempted to correct that notion in relation to the man born blind. When the question was asked whether it was his sins or the sins of his parents that caused the blindness, Jesus responded that it was neither. Jesus explained that he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

                                                            ************

St. Katharine Drexel, in her journals, reminds herself  [and us] to believe in Him and the power of His words,"Woman thou art healed and in that same instant she is healed."