The Blind Beggar Bartimaeus, the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

     In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that “the Good Shepard . . . calls his own sheep by name” (see John 10:1-21). With this in mind, today’s Gospel presents us with the story of the “blind beggar named Bartimaeus” (see Mark 10:46-52). The “name” given to this blind beggar is very interesting to me because the word really was not a bona fide name at all, but rather was a description of who he was. “Bartimaeus” simply meant “the son of Timaeus” (see verse 46).

     In Biblical times, many “people on the fringe” were thought to have had very little or no value at all as members of society, and like the blind beggar of today’s Gospel were essentially “nameless” to others. These would have included those who were sickened, crippled, blinded, possessed, impoverished, widowed and/or orphaned (just to mention a few). It was thought that many, if not all of those people, were stricken as such because of their sins, or because of the sins of their parents or relatives. It was believed as well that such “sinners” deserved little, if any, favor with God, and certainly why those who were in contrast regarded as “the righteous ones” deprived them of the dignity of being respectfully called “by name.” Those “sinners” therefore, the most marginalized of society, were completely shunned, discriminated against, and even treated with “holy contempt.” 

    Let’s not miss the subtle irony then presented by the blind man’s “name” given in today’s Gospel account! For those who actually witnessed this event, and for those who first heard about it in the earliest days of the church, even the “non-name” given to “Bartimaues” would have further underscored and highlighted his “worthlessness.” 

     According to Mark, “on hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, ‘Bartimaeus’ began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me’ . . . and many rebuked him, telling him to be silent . . . but he kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me’” (see verses 47-48). The people in the crowd, undoubtedly many of them “religious people,” must have felt justified as they tried to silence this “sinner” who cried out to Jesus. But the radical Jesus introduced to faith filled people a whole new way of thinking about and affirming the dignity of every single human being, even those previously thought to be unworthy of God’s love. 

     In response to “Bartimaeus,” and as with so many others who begged him for forgiveness, Jesus demonstrated a different way of treating “sinners.” Jesus was merciful, he was patient, he was loving and he was kind. Jesus looked into the eyes and into the hearts of those who were bowed down; Jesus lifted them up and called them by name, and he assured them they were loved by God! Jesus rejected attitudes that negated the value and dignity of other human beings, especially when those others were marginalized and essentially rendered as “nameless.” Instead, Jesus forgave those who were thought to have been “sinners,” he welcomed the outcasts, the marginalized and the scorned. 

     It’s no surprise to me then that when “Bartimaeus” called out to Jesus with faith and persistence, Jesus immediately cured him and gave him sight. Therefore, let us model our behavior towards others after Jesus who reached out those who were thought to be sinful and unworthy, and like Jesus may we value and cherish all of the people with whom we come into contact every day of our lives. Like “Bartimaeus,” may we also have faith and always believe that we are forgiven and precious in God’s eyes, and may we know that because of his great love for us, our God calls each one of us “by name.”

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

     Find me on Facebook by clicking on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo

Jesus, the Perfect Servant, the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

     Today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus came “to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (see Mark 10:45).  As faithful followers of Jesus, we are therefore called to take upon ourselves the identities and attitudes of “servants.” The Gospel clearly tells us that if we want to be “great” then we must place our lives in the service of others.

     As we contemplate this, it may be helpful to think about the sacrifices and contributions to our society that “modern-day servants” make for all of us. Although an actual list of the jobs done by such people is probably nearly endless, I believe there are many types of work that can be regarded as contemporary examples of this, and I think those who very responsibly take on these jobs clearly exemplify lives of service. Let’s consider the great, and often thankless duties of nurses and hospital orderlies, maintenance personnel, housemaids, cooks, teachers and child care providers, parking attendants, commercial drivers, construction workers, sales associates and cashiers, secretaries, security guards and even firefighters and police officers (just to name a few). We might also ponder the way such people, especially those who remain forever dedicated and dutiful, are often denied the proper respect and admiration they ought to be rightly given!

     As I thought about this, a good friend who works for the New York City Department of Sanitation came to mind. When I was a youth, if I had aspired to be a “trash man” I might have been ridiculed by my family and friends; they might have told me that such work was undignified, or that it was only for those incapable of doing anything else. Certainly, the value of such work and service to society would have been negated by those who might have encouraged me to aspire to something “greater.” Now that I have a perspective on the dedicated life of public service done by my friend the sanitation worker, I know for sure that the possible advice my friends and family might have given would have been completely misdirected. Such work in service to others is in fact very dignified, not for the fainthearted, and certainly worthy of great respect and admiration. I now have no doubt that sanitation workers, and so many other types of “modern-day servants,” form a most critical and very necessary layer of the system we call “human society.” What they do is truly “great!” And where would we all be without them?  Because of the work my friend the sanitation worker tirelessly does for others, I believe he is truly a hero in our society, and this can also be said about so many others who are our “modern-day servants!”

      Not all of us may have the privilege of holding such service related jobs, but Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that our attitudes must be one with theirs. He says: “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant . . .whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all . . . for the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (see Mark 10:43-45).

     As Christians, may we always be grateful to those faithful “modern-day servants” who so clearly demonstrate the very mind and disposition of Jesus! May we follow the example of their humble attitudes, especially in the manner in which we share their desire to give complete and loving service toward others. Let us encourage each other with this goal, and may we always desire to serve rather than to be served. May Jesus, the perfect servant, continue to inspire and nourish all of us in our lives of faith.  

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

     Find me on Facebook by clicking on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo

The Rich Young Man, the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

 

     I wonder if today’s Gospel story simply challenges or criticizes wealthy people who value their riches more than spiritual things?  Perhaps.  It does present us with an account of a rich young man who, although asked to give up his possessions in order to follow Jesus, was unable to do so (see Mark 10:17-30).

 

   Even though the rich young man had strictly observed all of the Ten Commandments during the course of his life, Jesus told him there was still more he was called to do. I think Jesus challenged him to make a deeper faith commitment that involved the total surrender of not really just his possessions, but actually his heart and his will as well. The young man’s failure to do as Jesus asked might be symbolic of all of those struggles we too may have as we try to overcome our own selfish temptations.
 
    I believe the message of today’s Gospel can challenge us to think about those things in our own lives that might occupy too much of our attention, our hopes and our desires. We might ask: Are there things upon which we might be tempted to place more value than for God or for his people? And does being distracted by these things indeed cause us to be insufficiently dedicated to the very noble and the many responsibilities and attitudes that our faith places upon us?

 

     And so, what are those things in our lives that possibly control us and upon which we might place too much value? Using the “seven deadly sins” as a guide, a few things on this list perhaps might be as follows: uncontrolled and selfish desire for physical pleasure, inability to maintain a healthy diet of food and nutrition, constant craving for power, money and/or prestige, lethargic and/or lazy approaches to responsibilities at work or school, over-exaggerated feelings of anger when struggling with the challenges of life or when dealing with perceived faults of others, extreme envy and/or jealousy towards others who have been blessed with success and good fortune, and lastly (and perhaps most “deadly”), bloated pride in our own accomplishments that leads us to a self-perceived sense of superiority over others.
 
     Unlike the rich young man presented in today’s Gospel, can we in contrast truly give up those things in our own lives that might “possess” us? And then, in contrast to these things, might we instead strive to be unselfish and genuinely loving towards others, good stewards of our personal health, joyfully generous with our resources, enthusiastic about our work and responsibilities, mercifully patient with and towards others, always full of kindness, and authentically humble about who we truly are?

 

     We may not have so many riches like the young man in today’s Gospel, but there may be things in our lives that prevent us from serving the Lord with our whole heart, mind and soul. To paraphrase today’s Gospel message then, I believe Jesus tells us: “Turn away from those things that possess you, place yourselves in service to others, and then you will have treasure in heaven and will be able to follow me with all that you are!”

 

     My friends, may we do this well!

 

     Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

     Find me on Facebook by clicking the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo

Do Not Work for Food that Perishes, the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

     Beginning today, and for next two Sundays, we will hear nearly all of the “Bread of Life Discourse” as recorded and found only in the Gospel of St. John (see chapter 6:22-59).

     As we contemplate the message contained in today’s passage, we might simply ask ourselves: “At the present time, and in this life, what are those things that matter to us the most as we attempt to remain faithful to Jesus?”  I believe we can ask this question in light of how we relate to others, the desires and needs we have as we live today, and as we contemplate our hope for the fullness of grace, and for eternal life.

     In last week’s Gospel, we heard the story of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes.  We saw that Jesus had performed a very “temporal” miracle in order to satisfy the hunger of a crowd of people for whom he had so much compassion (i.e., he had pitied them, and then he satisfied their need to eat at that moment).  Those very same people are featured once more in today’s Gospel; it seems they continued to follow him, and were captivated by him, because they wanted even more “temporal” satisfaction.  Because they did not yet understand the heavenly and eternal purpose of Jesus’ mission, and they likely hoped Jesus would become a type of earthly king, Jesus needed to instruct them about the imperishable nature of his mission and purpose.

     In the teaching contained in today’s Gospel, the people were challenged to understand a greater reality; they were taught about what really mattered for those who understood the meaning of life from an eternal perspective.  Jesus said to them: “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled . . . do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life . . . I am the bread of life and whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (see John 6:24-35).

     We cannot interpret this teaching aside from our understanding of who and what Jesus is for us as we come together to celebrate the Eucharist.  For us, Jesus himself is the “bread from heaven given for us to eat” (cf.,  John 6:51), and in the sharing of this heavenly food, we are given a glimpse into heaven, and are allowed an understanding of those things that really matter the most–in both the present and in the next life.

     Jesus fed the multitudes with the loaves and the fishes in order to satisfy their temporal needs, and he calls us to do the same in the way that we reach out and serve the less fortunate, but there is something much greater that we must never forget: Jesus himself is the Bread of Life, and he gives himself to us completely and eternally!  He does this so that we might be nourished today, and so that we might also experience the fullness of life and live forever!

     May the faith we have, how we live it in this life, and the manner in which we associate and place ourselves in service to others, be like the imperishable, eternal and sanctifying Eucharist we receive and share–may these things matter to us the most, and may they foreshadow that future glory of ours where Jesus already reigns forever!  Today, let us confidently hope for the fullness of grace, for the promise of life eternal, and for that day when all will be satisfied, and no one will ever hunger or thirst again!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

     Find me on Facebook by clicking on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo

The Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

     Isn’t it true that a good celebration, a party, a banquet, a family gathering, an evening with an old friend, a date with a special loved-one, etc., nearly always involves the sharing of some type of meal?  Isn’t it also true that when good and plentiful food is shared generously among friends and family, that such exchanges bring life and joy to all (to both those who give and to those who receive)?  It’s obvious to us that eating and drinking are more than simply basic survival needs; we also know that at the same time we share our food, we celebrate our lives together!

     The sharing of food, an action even echoed by our Eucharistic celebration, really is a paradigm for all of life’s activities, and the way we are called to relate to one another; when we nourish others by giving of ourselves in service to them, especially those who are less fortunate, then we affirm the value and the dignity of their very lives.  With this thought in mind, we might gain some insight into the message of today’s Gospel account.

     St. John speaks of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes, and the feeding of the five-thousand.  This story is a continuation of the same narrative we encountered last week from the Gospel of St. Mark (see Mark 6:30-34 and John 6:1-15).  It tells us that not only did the compassionate Jesus think the crowds of people who had been following him were “like sheep without a shepherd” (see Mark 6:34), but he was also concerned that they be nourished as well.  St. John tells us that Jesus wanted to be sure that those people had something to eat, and so he asked “where can we buy enough food for them?” (see verse 5b).

     After the disciples complained that the cost of feeding such a large amount of people would have been impossibly expensive, suddenly they encountered a small child who gave them his five loaves of bread and his two fish.  These offerings were then presented to Jesus, who then “took the five loaves and gave thanks” (see verse 11).  The provisions were then miraculously multiplied, so much so that “five-thousand men” (and perhaps as many women and children) were then given more than plenty to eat (see verse 10).  As if to illustrate even greater the magnitude of the miracle, the Gospel also tells us that afterward “the fragments left over . . . filled twelve wicker baskets” (see verse 13).

      Exactly how this miracle occurred, and the particulars of how the five loaves and two fishes were multiplied and distributed, is something of a mystery to us.  What we do know for sure from this story is that the generous sharing of food among all of those people brought life and joy to all who were there!  Through his preaching and by his own actions, which were motivated by compassion and love, Jesus made it clear to his followers how he expected them to treat others.  In this example, he also taught that by sharing even what at first seemed to be an insignificant amount of food, an abundance of life itself could be given to many!

     Just as our Lord felt it was important to meet the physical needs of the people by feeding them, so we too must live our Christian lives in ways that generously reach out to those in need.  I believe this is a very important dimension of the Christian way of life.  Today, may we once again recommit ourselves to sharing our lives with others by the way we feed and serve those who are less fortunate than ourselves, especially the neediest among us.  May we faithfully bring life and joy to all we meet, not only as we gather to share meals, and to join together in celebrating the breaking of the bread, but through all of the actions of our lives!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

     Find me on Facebook by clicking on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo

Like Sheep Without a Shepherd, the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

     I believe the message of today’s Gospel for us is that we are each called in our own way to do the best we can to bring the Good News of healing and salvation to others–especially to those around us who might be confused or lost, but who at the same time hunger and thirst for purpose and direction in their lives.  These are the kind of people to whom Jesus refers in today’s Gospel, those who are “like sheep without a shepherd” (see Mark 6:34).

     As authentic followers of Jesus, we are each called to reach out generously to a needy world, and to those among us who want peace, health, forgiveness, sustenance, strength, acceptance, and a sense of God’s love in their lives.  In truth, isn’t this a great part of what it actually means to “evangelize” or to “preach the Gospel?”  Isn’t it as simple as that?  I believe if we do this with great enthusiasm, then the message of our faith will be very attractive to others in the world, and they will want to flock to our churches and to be part of our faith communities.

     This is exactly what Jesus and his disciples did so well, and that we find so poignantly illustrated in today’s Gospel story.  Those holy men had been such effective ministers that they had become nearly overwhelmed by the frenzied crowd of people who had come to the small seaside fishing village of Capernaum to see them, so much so that the men “had no opportunity even to eat” (see Mark 6:31b).

     In response to this predicament, Jesus said to them:  “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (see Mark 6:31a).  It’s believed that they then set out by boat and sailed approximately two miles southwest along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to an area now known as Tabgha.  In a place there very close to the seashore, could be found a garden with abundant and fresh springs of pure and clear water, palm trees and flowers, and soft grassy fields (this sounds like a nice place to visit, right?).  It was the perfect place to go for rest, relaxation, peace and prayer, and probably Jesus and the disciples often went to Tabgha for that purpose.  Today, visitors to the Mount of the Beatitudes, which is located on a tranquil hillside just outside of Capernaum, can gaze over the magnificent Sea of Galilee and its glistening blue waters, and from there they can see many miles of the sea’s rugged shoreline; from that place on the hillside, it’s also possible to see both Capernaum and Tabgha and to realize just how close they are to one another.

     With this in mind, and as we read today’s Gospel story, it’s not difficult to imagine how the people who were scrambling to see Jesus and his disciples could have chased them on foot from the one place to the other; they could see where they were going, and it was easy to follow them.  The fact that Jesus and the disciples wanted to rest and to “get away from it all,” was not important to that frenzied crowd of people who were demanding their complete attention!  I think this story dramatically illustrates how much of a thirst and a hunger the people of that time and place had for the Good News Jesus was offering to them.  Jesus recognized this, and so the Gospel tells us that “when he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them” (see Mark 6:34).

     Isn’t it true that our world today is full of similar people who thirst and hunger for the same Good News (even though they may not yet fully realize what they desire)?  Jesus and the disciples enthusiastically and always did the work of the Father, and they were able to bring healing, meaning and purpose to the lives of others whom they had evangelized.  May we compassionately do the same for those around us today, especially by the way in which we invite them to our feast, and by the manner in which we serve them in their needs (and may we get a little rest when necessary too)!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

     Find me on Facebook by clicking on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo

Actions Speak Louder than Words, the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year B

My Sisters and Brothers:

     It is believed that St. Francis of Assisi often said to the friars: “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.”  Isn’t it true that “actions always speak louder than words?”

     Our Gospel today tells us that Jesus sent his twelve Apostles into the world to share the Good News and to preach about repentance.  Jesus wanted all men and women to turn away from sin, and he wanted them to be freed from unnecessary burdens, so they would know God intimately and live happy and holy lives.

     While the leaders of our church, especially our bishops, are called in a special way to follow in the footsteps of the Apostles (and to do their work), all Christians in some way or another share in this calling.  As members of the Christian community, I believe we must not only embrace the message of Jesus, but we must also imitate the Apostles’ mission of sharing the Good News and their vocation of “preaching.”  We are called to do these things, each according to our own gifts, talents and abilities.

     In today’s Gospel, we hear that the preaching of the Apostles was accompanied by many good deeds and acts; they went out and expelled demons, anointed the sick with oil and worked many cures (see Mark 6:7-13).  Before sending them, Jesus had advised: “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave . . . whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them” (see Mark 6:10-11).

     This advice about “shaking dust” may seem a little harsh to us, but looking at it from another perspective, we can ask ourselves how such a directive might be applied to our own lives and experiences.  To answer this, and in light Jesus’ desire for people to repent from sin, it seems to me that we could “shake off some dust” if we would actually, earnestly, and genuinely strive to live holy lives!  If so, we certainly would always endeavor to keep ourselves free from the seductions of those materialistic, moral and ethical ways of thinking and doing that are so contrary to God’s will and grace.  This would really and always enable us to put the words of our faith into action!

     I’ve always found it interesting, even perplexing, that some who call themselves “Christians” find it very easy to excuse themselves from some of the most basic obligations placed upon those of us who are people of faith.  When Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (compare Matthew 22:37-40 and Mark 12:30-31), he actually meant every word of the admonition!

     So therefore, modeling our lives after those of the Apostles, and likewise completely dedicated to our God, let us always respect the privacy, the dignity, the property and the rights of others; let us be quick to forgive their weaknesses; let us serve them–especially the poor, the needy and the marginalized; let us be generous with our time, talents and financial resources; let us always treat our family members and neighbors with respect–especially those who are different or less fortunate than ourselves; let us always strive to be instruments of God’s loving presence to all we meet!  If we never excuse ourselves from these basic directives of the Christian way of life, then I believe our actions will speak as loud as any words we might also choose to use.  In this way, we will surely be able to “shake some dust” out there in our world!

     My sisters and brothers, may we always preach the Gospel with our lives, and when necessary, use words!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

 

     Find me on Facebook by clicking on the following link: http://www.facebook.com/frayteo