30th Sunday in Ordinary time
Readings:
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52
Reflection:
Today’s Sunday readings are ardent expressions of hope, consolation and healing. The first reading from Jeremiah 31 is a cry of hope, a ‘shout with joy’, that the Lord will bring back his people, who had been deported from Judah by the Babylonians. The mention of ‘the blind and the lame, women with child, women in labour’ and evocation of a ‘smooth path where they will not stumble’ intensify the sense of the Lord’s loving care for human need. Psalm 125 reinforces the theme of the ‘great things the Lord has done for us’, so that even the heathens are astonished. Tears become songs of joy.Â
The letter to the Hebrews emphasises that, though he was without sin, Jesus shared our humanity in every other way. Today’s second reading from Hebrews 5 reminds us that Jesus did not take the glory of being a high priest upon himself; rather, it was given to him by the Father.  The Gospel reading from Mark (10:46-52) concerns the healing of Bartimaeus, a blind man. It is striking that this blind beggar can identify Jesus as ‘Son of David’, a recognition of his power as a healer and perhaps his Messianic status, which is otherwise known only to his disciples. Although those accompanying Jesus attempt to silence Bartimaeus, Jesus responds to his repeated pleas for help. The blind man addresses Jesus with faith in his healing power, and Jesus responds: ‘Your faith has saved you.’ Bartimaeus, now healed, becomes a disciple.Â
Robert Gascoigne is a parishioner at St Brigid’s, Marrickville.  He is a theologian who taught for many years at the Australian Catholic University.Â