30th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Faithful High Priest

THE 30TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
October 29, 2000
Jer 31:7-9; Ps 126:1-6; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52

I. INTRODUCTION - An End to Exile

Today's first reading finds the prophet Jeremiah sitting amidst the ruins of Jerusalem. He had opposed the return of idolatry with his whole being, but it was to no avail. Dismissing his warnings, the false prophet Hananiah got the upper hand with Zedekiah against Babylon. Judah would subsequently be conquered. The chosen people are sent into exile. Our reading today is introductory to Jeremiah's great oracle of the New Covenant. When they trusted to their own might and made offerings to false God's, they have lost everything. Jeremiah speaks a word of hope. If they return to fidelity with God, then God's mighty arm will save them. Illustrating just how incredible the return to their homeland shall be, he speaks these words for God: "I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, The mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng." The most vulnerable among them will be among the returning exiles. No new army will accomplish it. Compared to the will and power of God none of the factors against them will matter. Sure enough, after that generation had passed away and his own people murdered Jeremiah, Babylon would not only let them return but function as a benefactor in the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. However, they would not be a great independent nation again, at least not until the establishment of the modern state of Israel.

Christianity interprets the restitution as coming to completion in Jesus. The long exile, not to the Babylonians, but to death and sin was coming to an end. The devil was losing his grasp upon us. The Messiah comes to give us a share in eternal life and to repair the primordial rift with God. A new nation is established-- a new People of God are chosen from among Jews and Gentiles-- the Church.

II. BODY - Our Faithful High Priest

Jesus is our High Priest. Unlike the Jewish priests, he was not given his role by human authority and neither did he have any personal sin for which he needed to make an offering. Jesus took upon himself the punishment that was rightfully ours. Certainly his death on the cross brings immediately to mind the great offense of our sins. We did not deserve such a Savior who would make himself priest and saving victim. Looking upon the cross should serve as a remedy for our pride and lust, unless we have desensitized ourselves to human suffering. Jesus repairs the damage inflicted by Adam and Eve. His death will render satisfaction for all the sins of their children.

The question is asked, if Jesus died for all, why do we still experience suffering and death? Why are we still punished for original and personal sin? The reason is simple. Christ has won the victory and yet in time we must become receptive of the fruits of his self-offering. It is still possible to reject the saving work of Christ. The providence of God determines who will accept the merits of Christ's passion. As a people of faith we cry out for the blood of Christ to wash us and to make us new. Such is human freedom that we must will to be saved. We need to cooperate with Christ in breaking the bonds of our enslavement. If we fail to make use of his grace to do so, the fault is ours.

Jesus could surrender himself as a sin-offering because he had been made man; he had the authority to efface our sins because he was almighty God. A wrong against an infinite being could only find reparation from one of equal dignity. While God could have magnanimously forgiven us; he opted to fulfill the demands of divine justice. It is for this reason that in Jesus, both mercy and justice meet.

Christ suffered in his humanity while he divinity gave infinite value to his passion. This is at the heart of Christ's identity as the God-Man. Jesus bought us back from the devil, literally redeemed us. Christ's cross merits all necessary graces. Just as the blood of a paschal lamb delivered the Hebrews from death; Jesus is the new Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and gives us a share in eternal life.

Jesus truly died. He was not play acting as some contend. His soul separated from his body, although his divinity remained with both. The soul of Jesus descended to the dead, the limbo of the fathers or righteous dead of the Old Testament. As the one high priest, he does this to lead the righteous into paradise. His death had unbarred the gates of heaven and now they were free to go to their just reward. Meanwhile, Christ's body was taken down from the cross and placed into a borrowed tomb. We know what happens next. Jesus rises body and soul from the grave.

Jesus continues to be our one high priest and mediator to the Father. All Catholic priests participate in this one priesthood, acting at the altar in the person of Christ, head of the Church. His sacrifice is re-presented upon our altars and his grace is infused into men's souls. Jesus is present to us, albeit invisibly, and he sits at the right hand of the Father as our eternal advocate.

Jesus has made peace to God on our behalf. This reconciliation is sealed in his blood. He has redeemed us and his pleads our cause. His one sacrifice brought with it all the sacrifices of the old law and alone appeased the throne of heaven, the almighty Father. This restoration of the primal unity between God and man will be completed at the end of the world.

III. CONCLUSION - Mercy & Justice Meet in Jesus

Just as Jeremiah images the blind and lame as among the throng returning from exile, Jesus pays particular attention to the crippled and blind. The Gospel scene is very touching and very telling. Bartimaeus is a blind beggar who has heard about the miraculous deeds of Jesus. Now that Jesus is nearby, he calls out to him. People literally scold him to keep quiet. He shouts all the louder. The crowd did not want to hear him. Maybe they were even ashamed of his presence? Nevertheless, while their ears and probably their hearts are closed to the beggar, Jesus hears his cry. Note what Bartimaeus says, "Son of David, have pity on me!" He is acknowledging that Jesus is a descendant of David and from his royal line is to come the Messiah and Savior of Israel. The beggar cries for mercy, but attached to his plea is a profession of faith in our Lord. When Jesus calls him over. The sentiment of the throng seems to change. There is a total about-face. "You have nothing whatever to fear from him! Get up! He is calling you!" There is a two-fold action. This remains an element of discipleship. We cry out for mercy and God hears our prayer. We seek God and he seeks us out. Note what Bartimaeus does. He throws aside his cloak, jumps up, and comes to Jesus. As a blind beggar he probably had little else besides his one cloak. No doubt he slept and sat upon it, lest it be blown away or stolen. Instead of grasping it tightly around him while walking to Jesus, he throws it aside. He no longer needs his literal security blanket. He will be able to find it afterwards because he believes that he shall soon see. He wastes no time and jumps up. Such should be our disposition when God calls us. When he reaches Jesus our Lord does something a bit peculiar, no doubt for the crowd. He asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" We might ask, is it not obvious? The beggar responds, "I want to see." What else might he ask? Was Jesus hoping for another answer? In any case, the gift of sight is given him. No more mention is made of the cloak. The beggar's old life has been swept away. He sees, not only with physical eyes, but eyes of faith. Jesus tells him, "Be on your way! Your faith has healed you." Here is where we get a hint as to what Jesus wanted to hear from the beggar. His eyes open, Bartimaeus follows him up the road. He becomes one of the many followers or disciples of Jesus. Can you imagine what laughter would have resulted had he answered Jesus' question, "I want to be your disciple." Nevertheless, the result here is the same. Tradition suggests that many of those given restored sight and made able to walk would later be blinded and crippled again in the persecution of the Christian saints. Their little faith that brought healing would blossom into a great faith meriting a share in Christ's eternal life.

ASIDES

Good Thoughts (Anonymous)

1. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks within.

2. The choice you make today will usually affect tomorrow.

3. Take time to laugh for it is the music of the soul.

4. If anyone speaks badly of you, live so no one can believe it.

5. Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.

6. Love is strengthened by working through conflicts together.

7. The best thing parents can do for their children is to love each other.

8. Harsh words break no bones but they do break hearts.

9. To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it.

10. We take for granted the things that we should be giving thanks for.

11. Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished.

12. Happiness is enhanced by others but does not depend upon others.

13. You are richer today if you have laughed, given or forgiven.

14. For every minute you are angry with someone, you lose 60 seconds of happiness that you can never get back.

15. Do what you can, for who you can, with what you have, and where you are.

16. The best gifts to give:

To your friend ---------------loyalty;
To your enemy--------------forgiveness;
To your boss ----------------service;
To a child ----------------------a good example;
To your parents -------------gratitude and devotion;
To your mate -----------------love and faithfulness;
To all men and women-----charity
To your God - ----------------your life.