October 25, 2009

30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 25, 2009

Jeremiah 31:7-9

Hebrews

This section of Jeremiah is written as words of hope to a people who are in exile. The prophet can see a NEW exodus. This time, in place of wandering for 40 years, the people will have a level, straight path to Jerusalem. In fact, he says, it will be a miraculous journey - for the lame, the blind, pregnant women will all make the trip in comfort.

Psalm 126 joyfully announces that God has done great things for us. The psalm concludes with giving thanks because God has brought us back to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, City of Peace. Jerusalem, the spiritual metaphor for the kingdom of God.

Mark presents Jesus as being on a journey to Jerusalem where he will die. Mark tells of 13 cure stories while Jesus is going up to Jerusalem. The first and last of the stories are of blind men who cannot see. The journey begins with Jesus curing the blind man by using spit and mud. Now Jesus is at the end of the journey, Jericho is just outside of Jerusalem. In between the two blind men are the disciples who are spiritually blind and cannot see Jesus for who he is.

Today’s story has a dual purpose to it. First, the blind man’s SIGHT stands in sharp contrast to the blindness of James and John. Remember last week? Their blindness to the teaching of Jesus? They just didn’t see the point he was teaching about discipleship. They do not understand this teaching about “the first shall be first”.

Second, the emphasis this story places on the faith of the “little people”. This blind man views things from the periphery, the fringe. He lives on the margin of society. But it is from there that he can see more clearly than we who are in the main stream of society.

Bartimaeus understands the teaching “the last shall be first” because he has been last. He is the first human in the gospel of Mark to recognize Jesus [evil spirits had already done so]. I suspect that it is because he is on the fringe and not blinded by all the things which blind us.

Notice also that he throws aside his cloak. He placed the cloak on the ground in front of him to catch the coins people would toss his way. But once he accepts the call from Jesus, he throws away his cloak and places his trust in the Lord.

The readings this weekend summarize well the principles of stewardship spirituality.

1) God has created everything and we are merely stewards of HIS creation.

2) REJOICE in the good things God has done for us. Jeremiah, even while in exile, is rejoicing over God’s magnificent treatment of his people, and already is looking forward to how God will lead them back to Jerusalem. And Psalm 126 is filled with great joy over how God treats his people.

3) TRUST in God to take care of us. Remember the blind man and his cloak. Are we willing to trust in divine providence? Somehow, if we respond to Christ’s call, and trust, God does take care of us – as individuals, as families, as a parish. My priorities change.

4) Jesus OPENS our eyes; OPENS us to the needs of others. In stewardship, we find ourselves becoming more and more other-centered.

5) COMMIT ourselves to others. There are a variety of ways and means. Each of us, in conversation with those who know us, discerns were our deepest passion intersects with the greatest need in the community/world. E.g. a person who feels deeply about healing might serve in medicine or therapy; an individual who is passionate about faith, religion might check out religious communities, ministry in the Church or perhaps even priesthood.

We acknowledge all is from God

We rejoice in what God has given us

We trust God will continue to provide

We allow Jesus to open our eyes to needs of others

We commit ourselves to use time, talent and treasure to serve other.

These are the basic steps for embracing stewardship spirituality. May we as individuals, and as parish continue to grow in our sense of stewardship. Then we can sing: The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy.

Rev. Everett Hemann

RevEv@saintpatrickcf.org