30TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE
THEME: “YOU NEED YOUR FATHER, YOUR PRIEST AND YOUR FAITH”
INTRODUCTION
Today we read about the blind faith of Bartimaeus which penetrated through his physical condition and limitations to attract the favour and healing from Jesus. This signals us that faith is not only the patrimony/fortune of the strong/whole, but also a potent weapon for the weak and those who are at their lowest level. We must pray that this faith may never elude us at any moment in our lives, and that this faith may continue to drive us above our physical conditions towards God our Father, our priest and the fulfiller/completion of our faith.
THE FIRST READING (JER. 31: 7–9)
Faith draws us to God our heavenly Father who is our only consolation and savior in our blind, lame, fallen or broken state. In this first reading, God assures Israel and us that when we are down, we are not yet finished; for we still have God who has pledged to continue to be our father; consoling, leading, straightening, watering and restoring our paths.
THE SECOND READING (HEB. 5: 1–6)
Faith draws and unites us with Christ our high priest who acts on our behalf in relation to God, to obtain sanctification, mercy and other beneficences from God. Without faith, we cannot always approach our appointed priests, who are anointed to cover the gap created by our ignorance, sin, waywardness and weaknesses. Without any prejudice to our personal efforts to reconcile with God, we must inevitably develop strong faith in our priests whose office it is to deal on our behalf before God. Aaron and Moses used their office as priests to save Israel a good number of times when they turned to them in the Old Testament.
THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 10: 46–52)
In the episode of the gospel, Jesus fulfilled his role as the Father of all; rich and poor, healthy and sick alike. Jesus fulfilled his role as the priest who can ask on our behalf before God for the favours/miracles we have not succeeded to get directly by ourselves. We must applaud the faith of the blind Bartimaeus as well; he did not allow his blind condition or the discouragement of the crowd to choke out his faith. His faith drew him to Jesus his consolation and fulfillment. His faith changed his story for good. No condition should make us lose our faith or forget our Father (God) and our priests who can speak for us before God!
CONCLUSION
Cardinal Faulhaber, an Archbishop of Munich, one day was visiting the home for blind soldiers. He walked through the home and cheered them up. He encouraged them and blessed them. As he came to one blind soldier, he heard him praying; “Lord, I beg you not to take away from me the light of my eyes, but if it is your will, at least leave me the light of my mind, but if it is your will that I be deprived of that, leave me at least the light of my faith.” The cardinal stopped to ask the blind soldier where he learnt this beautiful prayer. The man replied from childhood and had never forgotten it. Certainly the loss of one’s sight is a tragic affliction, but the loss of one’s faith is a greater affliction. In any condition you find yourself, always remember- you need your father, you need your priest, and you need your faith!
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin