‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately Bartimaeus received his sight and followed him on the way.
Saint Mark tells of Jesus healing two blind men. The first, in chapter 8, entailed a two-step process as the man initially said, "I see people looking like trees and walking. Then he laid hands on his eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly." This man was told to go home, and "don't even go into the village."
The second healing concerns Bartimaeus. When Jesus spoke the word, without touching him as he had the first blind man, Bartimaeus' eyes were "immediately" healed and he followed Jesus "on the way," which was both the road to Jerusalem and the life of the gospel. You'll remember that Saul, (aka Saint Paul) was persecuting those who followed the Way.
Between the two incidents in chapters 8 and 10 are several stories about the befuddled, hesitant disciples of Jesus. In fact, the stories of sight restored are a two-part parable about coming to know the Lord. It doesn't come easily or immediately. It requires an abundance of patience on God's part, and a readiness to follow the Lord despite our anxiety, confusion, and distress.
While Saint Mark's Gospel is focused on Jesus, the suffering servant, prophet, and messiah, powerful in word and work, it's also about turning away from sin and following him. On the first page of the book we hear Jesus announcement,
This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
The two-part tale teaches us that the disciple of Jesus is never finished with his personal journey of penance. When the young Saint Francis was asked what should his disciples be called, he replied, "We are penitents from Assisi." That's as good a name as any for Franciscans; it's what life in Christ is all about.
If we have a vision of the Lord and how we should live in the world today, it's always partial. Men look like walking trees. The Gospel, like the light of the sun, is often refracted through the atmosphere around us. We can hardly bear to look directly at it. And so we're influenced by the expectations of society and culture, and the world often admires us because they suppose we're living up to their ideals. If we celebrate the birth of Jesus, they suppose we've got the Christmas Spirit, which demands superfluous shopping for oneself and one's loved ones. But when we continue to celebrate Christmas for two weeks, and Easter for eight weeks, they wonder what's got into us.
The world admires Christian hospitality and suppose its the same thing as inclusiveness, which it's not. They suppose compassion accepts abortion and encourages euthanasia, and many Christians agree with them. They see men, but they look like walking trees.
Following Jesus requires a willingness to learn from our tradition and the magisterium; and learning always means I was wrong and now I see that I was wrong. We should remember the costs our ancestors paid for this way of life, and be prepared to pay the same price. And we should realize that we have sinned, we and our ancestors have sinned.
Saint Mark's Gospel ends abruptly with Jesus's death and burial, and the discovery of an empty tomb. His disciples still have much to learn. The other canonical gospels tell the story of the disciples' rebirth as their eyes are opened to see and understand what they see. But even then, Saint Luke says they could "hardly believe what they saw;" and Saint Matthew says, "but some doubted;" and Saint John remembers that one refused to believe until he touched the Lord's risen body.
The Acts of the Apostles tells of the growing wisdom of the Church as they quarreled about its direction and growth. Should we include gentiles? Can we share their food and speak their languages? Must we finally separate from the Jewish religion? What does it mean to eat his flesh and drink his blood?
Twenty centuries later we are still learning because the Holy Spirit still has much to teach us, and we still see men, but they look like walking trees.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. I Cor 13:12
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.