DAILY- HOMILY

October 28, 2018 – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Cycle B. Green.

Jer 31: 7- 9 / Heb 5: 1 - 6 / Mk 10: 46- 52.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             Jer 31: 7- 9

For Yahweh says this: "Shout with joy for Jacob; rejoice for the greatest of nations. Proclaim your praise and say: Yahweh has saved his people, the remnant of Israel."

Look, I will bring them back from the land of the north, gather them from the ends of the earth, the lame and the blind, mothers and women in labor- a great throng will return. They went away weeping, they will return in joy. I will lead them by the streams of water, on a level path so that no one will stumble, for I am Israel's father and Ephraim is my firstborn.

FROM THE 2ND READING:            Heb 5: 1 - 3, 5- 6

Every High Priest is taken from among mortals and appointed to be their representative before God to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin. He is able to understand the ignorant and erring for he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he is bound to offer sacrifices for his sins as well as for the sins of the people....

Nor did Christ become High Priest in taking upon himself this dignity, but it was given to him by the One who says: You are my son, I have begotten you today And in another place: You are a priest forever in the priestly order of Melchizedek.

GOSPEL READING:           Mk 10: 46- 52

They came to Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!" Many people scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man saying, "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you." He immediately threw aside his cloak, jumped up and went to Jesus.

Then Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Master, let me see again!" And Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your faith has made you well." And immediately he could see, and he followed Jesus along the road.

REFLECTION

In the first reading the prophet Jeremiah speaks of the coming of God's salvation to his people Israel: they will return from exile in great joy, the lame, the blind, all of God's chosen people.

In the Gospel reading the blind man Bartimaeus asks for the help of Jesus: "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus restores his sight: "Go your way, your faith has made you well."

Though the bystanders scolded Bartimaeus as he cried out to Jesus, Bartimaeus persisted with even louder cries for help from Jesus. Jesus taught us about the importance of persistent prayer: "Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and the door will be opened to him who knocks." (Mt 7: 7- 8)

And we can pray with assurance not only because God is our Father but also because he already knows what we need: "As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Mt 7: 11) "Set your hearts first on the kingdom and justice of God and all these things will also be given to you." (Mt 6: 33)

Do we trust our Father in heaven? Do we have any doubt about the Father's love and care for each one of us?

Have a good day!

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