Relentless Devotion to Hope and the Truth

Dear Friend,

I’m trying to absorb the fact that October is almost over and we’re about four weeks away from the end of the liturgical year. It’s a challenge to keep my balance and not lurch into getting ahead of myself.  

The hero of the Gospel this weekend is certainly not getting ahead of himself and, interestingly is not one of the disciples. (The disciples have in fact been quite “ahead of themselves” in recent Gospel readings, in a hurry and missing things - recall their fight over seats of honor.) Rather, our hero is a man unable to see and who knows it. Seated by the roadside, Bartimaeus cries out “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” His cry for compassion is based quite literally on evidence of things unseen. The words “Son of David” signal his trust in Jesus as an agent of God’s mercy. He points us to the truth of what happens when, through Jesus Christ, we invite the power of God’s love to meet our need and powerlessness. New vision and direction emerge.  

Bartimaeus displays what I recently heard described as a “relentless devotion to hope and the truth.” For all of us “on the road,” this might be the devotion we need to keep our balance these days. It makes me think of the adage “Begin with the end in mind”. The sacred cycle of our calendar culminates (soon!) with the great affirmation of God’s sustaining love for all people. God is that very love – trinitarian and incarnate – and as such, is in charge of our lives and our history. We’ll celebrate that on November 24, The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Our call is to slow down and cooperate and let Bartimaeus show us how.   

Gratefully,

Father Dan ofm