October 23, 2009
Sunday Scripture
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
BY FATHER DONALD DILGER
The journey of Jesus and his disciples to Jerusalem began in the northern province of Galilee. They bypassed Samaria (but not in all the gospels) by crossing the Jordan and traveling down the east bank of the River until they arrived opposite Jericho. Here they recrossed the Jordan to the west bank and entered the city of Jericho, which is situated fifteen miles northeast of Jerusalem. Jesus was accompanied not only by his disciples but also by a huge crowd of pilgrims en route to Jerusalem to observe Passover.
As they were leaving the city, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting by the road-side. When he learned that the prophet-healer Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Son of David” implies royal descent from the great king who died almost a millennium before Jesus’ time. “Son of David” in Mark’s theology is a synonym for Messiah/Christ. Up to this time only Peter speaking for the group had recognized Jesus as Christ/Messiah, but Jesus vetoed any publicity on this matter. Mark places this title in the mouth of the blind man to prepare his readers for the impending triumphal entry into Jerusalem. At that time Mark will attribute this shout to the Passover crowds, “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming!” Mark envisions restoration of David’s kingdom. This idea rests on the oracles of Jeremiah 30:9, “They shall serve the Lord their God and David their king,” and Jeremiah 31:8 (part of today’s first reading), “I will gather them . . . with the blind in their midst.”
Many from the crowd try to silence the blind beggar, but to no avail. He continues to shout the title with its plea, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Who are the “many” trying to obstruct the blind man? Were they the same disciples who asked Jesus to send away the crowd following him before the multiplication of loaves? Were they the same disciples who tried to keep parents from bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing? The blind man was disrupting their plans for Jesus, their control of Jesus, who was on the road to what they considered a glorious upheaval of the political situation. Can we see in these “handlers of Jesus” servants of the Church whose lifestyle, prejudices, arrogance, or ignorance keeps others from Jesus?
The persevering prayer of the blind beggar prevails over those who tried to stop him. Jesus calls him. The obstructing people (the disciples?) suddenly change, now encouraging the blind man, or they might incur the anger of Jesus as they did earlier when they tried to keep the children from him. Jesus asks the blind man, “What would you like me to do for you?” Isn’t this the kind of question we would like to hear from above and instead hear only a deafening silence? The man asks for the gift of sight, which Jesus grants. In Jesus’ response to the man who now sees, Mark gives the reason why the man’s request was granted, “Your faith has made you well.”
A conclusion from this catechetical lesson would certainly be perseverance in prayer. But there is more. The journey of Jesus with his disciples has been a time of learning for those who would later be teachers and his witnesses. Mark told us this at the beginning of the journey, “He was teaching his disciples,” 10:31. Even though Jesus also instructs crowds during the journey, the instruction is chiefly aimed at his immediate disciples. Mark demonstrated repeatedly that they had learned very little and as yet had little or no faith in Jesus’ mission. Now Mark presents us with a man totally outside this privileged group who shows his faith through persevering prayer. What could this say to those ordained and designated as official teachers, leaders, servants of the Church about the faith and wisdom of ordinary people, if the word “ordinary” can even be used of anyone?
In the early sixth century B.C. Jeremiah lived through the ruin of his people, his country, and their exile in Babylon. Instead of his usual message of doom, the prophet envisions glorious restoration. Even the blind will share in that restoration. This reading was chosen to accompany today’s gospel of giving sight to a blind man because it includes the words, “I will gather them (God’s people) . . . with the blind and the lame etc.”
A major theme of Hebrews is the priesthood of Jesus. There was a problem. His biological origin was not from a priestly tribe. One had to be descended from Aaron. The author has a solution. Jesus is a priest “according to the order of Melchizedek.” In Genesis 14, Melchizedek was priest of Salim (later Jerusalem). He worshipped El-Elyon, a name later attached to the Lord. He met Abraham returning from battle. Melchizedek “brought out bread and wine” and blessed Abraham. He gave Melchizedek a tenth of the recently taken plunder. If Abraham, ancestor of Aaron, offered tithes to Melchizedek, then Melchizedek was greater than Aaron. So Jesus must be a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. The “bread and wine” was also a factor. A neat and tidy theology!