TRANSFORMATIONS
(A biblical refection on THE 30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 28 October, 2012)
First Reading: Jer 31:7-9; Psalms: Ps 126:1-6; Second Reading: Heb 5:1-6; Gospel Reading: Mk 10:46-52
The musical Les Misérables is based on the epic novel by Victor Hugo and dramatizes the adventures of Jean Valjean. After serving nineteen years in prison for stealing some bread to help his sister’s starving child, Jean Valjean is paroled.
Unable to find work, Valjean steals from a priest, who in turn lies to save him from being sent back to prison. Given a second chance, Jean Valjean undergoes a moral and social transformation: he takes a new name, becomes wealthy, befriends a dying prostitute, raises her orphan and twice risks everything he’s gained to save others.
What the Lord did through the priest for Jean Valjean is similar to what He did for Bartimaeus in the Gospel. Both Valjean and Bartimaeus were nobodies – social outcasts. But when Jesus entered their lives, they became somebodies – His disciples.
Mark’s story about Bartimeus is like a dramatic one-act play with seven scenes, namely, the seven verses.
In the first verse, Jesus is leaving Jericho for His final journey to Jerusalem, where He will die. There is an immediate contrast between the sizable crowd tagging along behind Jesus and the isolated blind beggar sitting by the road.
In the second verse, Bartimaeus hears that Jesus of Nazareth, the miracle worker, is passing by. Realizing that this was the chance of a lifetime, he cries out for help.
In the third verse, the people callously rebuke him for bothering the Master and for making himself a public nuisance. But Bartimaeus refuses to be intimidated by them and he shouts after Jesus all the louder.
In the fourth verse, Jesus stops and calls for him. Here Jesus is on His way to die, and yet He stops to help a nobody. Perhaps Jesus takes time to stop to show that this blind beggar is really a somebody, a person worthy of our respect and care.
Do we stop sometimes when we are doing what seems so urgent to assist somebody who is hurting? Or who just needs a little attention? Or who only wants to be appreciated?
In the fifth verse, Bartimaeus responds to our Lord’s call with abandon and enthusiasm. He doesn’t pile up his cloak neatly – he throws it away! He doesn’t get up hesitantly – he jumps with joy!
Compare that with our own response to the Lord. Too often our response is lazy and lethargic instead of being done with energy and alacrity, or with expectation and anticipation.
In the sixth verse, Jesus asks Bartimaeus: “What do you want Me to do for you?” It is a key question that is asked of all of us whenever we approach Jesus in prayer. May our answer always be: “lord, that we may see in areas where we are blind because of selfishness; or hear where we are deaf to the cries of pain around us.”
Finally, in the seventh verse, Jesus confirms the blind man’s faith with a cure. But instead of going his own way as Jesus instructed, Bartimaeus follows Jesus up the road. What a challenge to us!
When we receive a gift from the Lord, do we go our own way and use it only for ourselves? Or do we sometimes go up the road with Jesus to share it with other people who may need more help than we do?
Many are the times Jesus has stopped to take notice of us and to transform us. When we were nobodies, He made us somebodies. When we were sick spiritually, He made us whole. When we were down, He lifted us up.
Can we in turn stop more often to ask people: “What can I do for you? How can I be of help?”
Note: Taken from Albert Cylwicki, CSB, HIS WORD RESOUNDS, Makati, Philippines: St. Paul Publications, 1991, pages 190-192.
