Texts taken from the Missal “On Your Word” September-October 2021

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
2nd week of the psalter

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 31:7-9)
Thus says the Lord: “Sing out with joy for Jacob, shout for the foremost of the nations, make your praise heard and say: ‘The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel.’ Behold, I am bringing them back from the land of the north and gathering them from the farthest ends of the earth; among them are the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and the woman in labor: they will return here in a great multitude. They departed in tears, but I will bring them back with consolations; I will lead them to streams of water, by a level road where they will not stumble, because I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my firstborn.” The word of God.

Commentary on the first reading

The people of Israel are in exile in Babylon; it is a time of despair and tragedy. The Lord does not abandon his children and, through the prophet Jeremiah, consoles them. They are children without hope, but salvation and liberation will be prophesied to them because “the Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel.” What motivates this choice of God? Here it is: “Because I am a father to Israel.” God’s choices are guided by his fatherly love; it is in his nature to love with an everlasting love, and every believer is personally its object. This reminds us that God does not love us only when he showers us with graces. When life does not smile upon us, when everything around us is dark, when we feel barren, when negative thoughts destroy the mind, when we have lost the enjoyment of his fellowship, God constantly remembers us and never ceases to have compassion on us. God is not like our earthly father; he is a Father who is totally and essentially different! He is merciful and faithful, patient, ready to help and save, always.

SECOND READING

From the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 5:1-6)
Every high priest is chosen from among men and appointed to act on behalf of men in matters pertaining to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to feel proper compassion for those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is beset by weakness. Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins also for himself, as he does for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not glorify himself by becoming high priest, but it was he who said to him: “You are my son, today I have begotten you,” who conferred it upon him, as it is said in another passage: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

If the high priest represents men before God, it is clear that he must be one of them, chosen to “offer” sacrifices for sins, to present men to God and draw them closer to him. The high priest is distinguished by his ability to feel “compassion” in the face of human ignorance and errors. The reason is clear: he too experiences weakness and suffering. How could he not be indulgent toward those whose misery he shares? Christ is the perfect high priest; his compassion toward us is an essential attribute for those who seek salvation in him. But compassion is also “our business.” Following Jesus’ example, we too are asked to be compassionate: in our communities, in our parishes, in our youth groups, in trying to understand and support others, in caring for the weakest, in helping those who are poor, and in not excluding those who are not part of our usual circle. “Only the heart unites and integrates. Understanding without compassionate feeling tends to divide” (Pope Francis).

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 10:46-52)
At that time, as Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind man, was sitting by the roadside begging. Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him, telling him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more: “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said: “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him: “Take courage; get up, he is calling you!” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him: “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied: “Rabbouni, let me see again!” And Jesus said to him: “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him along the way. The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

A request for help: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” How many would listen to the cry of a poor blind man, sitting by the roadside and begging? How many prefer to turn their heads away so as not to see? The poor person is a nuisance: his state of deprivation is a nuisance, his smell is a nuisance, his poor rags are a nuisance, his cry for help is a nuisance; and so we become the blind, the deaf, the mute, people with closed hearts who do not know how to respond to cries for help. By now, even great human tragedies no longer move us, let alone the cry of a poor person. But when the cry becomes louder: “Son of David, have mercy on me,” it becomes prayer. And this prayer is received by Jesus, who is able to listen to people’s hearts with his own heart. “Call him,” Jesus says. With this word Jesus addresses each of us: family members, friends, educators, priests, nuns, so that we too may stop, make ourselves seen, draw near, and say: “Take courage, get up.” May Bartimaeus’ faith be our faith; a faith that makes us see everything with new eyes, eyes full of light like Mary’s.