Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102812.cfm

Marsh-friendly trees amid
the reeds

The LORD has delivered his people,the remnant of Israel.Behold, I will bring them backfrom the land of the north;I will gather them from the ends of the world,with the blind and the lame in their midst,the mothers and those with child;they shall return as an immense throng.


The Catechism of the Catholic Church, ¶1932 says: 

The duty of making oneself a neighbor to others and actively serving them becomes even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged, in whatever area this may be. "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."

Christians in the United States today find themselves on the horns of a dilemma. We can no longer entertain the notion that the US is a Christian nation. It never claimed to be; there is no such statement in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or any of its amendments. But many of us grew up thinking it is or should be Christian, and it should therefore do the right thing for the needy.

Besides, even if we're not a Christian nation, we should do the right thing for the poor and needy. Isn't that what any good, intelligent human being would do, regardless of his religion?

No. Not really, though the Abrahamic religions (Jews, Christians and Muslims) honor that tradition. And other major religions -- Buddhists, Hindhus, etc -- have similar beliefs. Some studies show that today's youth think caring for the needy -- both the chronically poor and those afflicted by unforeseen catastrophe -- is a good thing to do; but it's not necessary. They feel no particular obligation to do so. They do not imagine a compassionate God to enforce that law, nor any other Duty to make it happen. But if alms-giving makes you feel good, go for it!

If the majority of Americans feel no obligation to charity, Christians must come away from there:

Therefore, come forth from them and be separate,” says the Lord,“and touch nothing unclean,then I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6: 17 

In today's Gospel, Jesus opens the eyes of the blind Bartimaeus who immediately forgets the only thing he ever owned -- a cloak -- and comes forth from them. 

Eyesight in this gospel is more than ordinary vision. It is wisdom, the ability to see the truth of God's kingdom in our world. Bartimaeus suddenly sees what the seeing cannot see, and he uses his healed eyes for their original purpose -- to follow Jesus. In fact that is what Jesus does for his disciples. Now that we can see we can act so much better than those around us who are blind to justice, mercy and righteousness.

As the national election approaches, with its focus on The Economy, we remember God's preference for the poor and vote for those candidates who prefer the poor and the needy, even at our expense.