October 25, 2009 30th Ordinary Sunday of the Year Jer. 31:7-9; Heb. 5:1-6; Mk. 10:46-52 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:http://www.usccb.org/nab/102509.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   The readings today deal with the reign of God. At first glance, they look like success stories: circumstances have been turned around. The blind man receives his sight. In Jeremiah’s future, those who are blind or lame or with children or who are pregnant are gathered together again.   A closer look reveals something different. Jeremiah’s scene depicts the people who had been scattered by the exile, people who were afflicted and especially vulnerable. They were gathered together and consoled and cared for by God, but the text does not say that they were healed. The Letter to the Hebrews does depict Christ the high priest, but it indicates that he was glorified only after he had sacrificed himself for the sake of others. It was the blind man’s own faith that saved him.   The successes that these stories depict can be seen in God’s embrace of those who have been broken by life’s tragedies, in Jesus’ total giving of himself for others and in the faith of the man who called upon Jesus. In each instance, something of the reign of God was brought to light.   This reign exists underneath, behind or deep within the circumstances of life, even if we cannot see it there. It takes shape when we embrace the needy in our midst, when we give of ourselves to others, when we turn to Jesus in faith. Bringing this reign to light is the responsibility of us all, not merely of those for whom it is a life work or vocation. Baptism has made us all ministers of this reign, and our place in the world is our field of ministry.   The reign of God does not always meet our expectations. It would be wonderful if those who are blind or lame would be healed through faith, but they are not. It would be wonderful if those who are in any way vulnerable would be strengthened and preserved from harm, but that does not happen either. Hence there will always be people who need our help, and in helping them we will establish the reign of God. It is almost as if we need them so that we can bring God’s reign to our world. Perhaps we do! We always say that the reign of God turns circumstances upside down. Might this turn of events be an example of such a reversal? Perhaps it is our turn to cry out, “Master, I want to see.”     <<   Previous: 29th Sunday of the Year  |   Next: 31st Sunday of the Year >>     Go Back to SERMONS (Year B)