This Week
Our first reading today is one of those messianic readings from the Old Testament, telling us what will happen when the Messiah, the Saviour, comes. It was addressed to a defeated, exiled people giving them a message of hope, promising them that they will return to the Promised Land. It mentions, as it often does, the blind and the lame – those who are weak and marginalised, they in particular will be comforted and strengthened when the Messiah comes.
Our psalm continues in the same way, speaking of ‘the marvels that the Lord has worked’, speaking of a situation transformed, ‘those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.’ All the messianic passages are uplifting and encouraging, a very positive message, for then and now.
In our Gospel we meet Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, he recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, giving him the messianic title ‘Son of David’. He shouts out when he knows Jesus is near, Bartimaeus is a great example to us of perseverance in prayer and in witnessing to Jesus as Saviour. People scold him and tell him to keep quiet ‘but he only shouted all the louder’. He is not put off by what others think or say. Bartimaeus asked Jesus to let him see again and that’s exactly what Jesus did, he opened his eyes, and notice what Bartimaeus did then, he followed Jesus along the road. His life is transformed, not only can he see but he becomes a follower of Jesus. Truly Jesus has the power to transform our lives, whatever the outward circumstances he can help us see things in a new way.
A wonderful miracle, a deeply symbolic miracle. Bartimaeus was blind but he could still see who Jesus was – the ‘Son of David’, ‘the Messiah and Saviour’. Many of those around him who could see with their eyes were unable to see who Jesus was. The eyes are crucial we would say and yet there are still blind people who live very full lives. For there is another sight, an inner sight that enables us to look at things in a different way – the sight of faith. It enables us to see good things, wholesome things, even in the most difficult situations. Oh Lord that we may see with the sight of faith.
Our psalm continues in the same way, speaking of ‘the marvels that the Lord has worked’, speaking of a situation transformed, ‘those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.’ All the messianic passages are uplifting and encouraging, a very positive message, for then and now.
In our Gospel we meet Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, he recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, giving him the messianic title ‘Son of David’. He shouts out when he knows Jesus is near, Bartimaeus is a great example to us of perseverance in prayer and in witnessing to Jesus as Saviour. People scold him and tell him to keep quiet ‘but he only shouted all the louder’. He is not put off by what others think or say. Bartimaeus asked Jesus to let him see again and that’s exactly what Jesus did, he opened his eyes, and notice what Bartimaeus did then, he followed Jesus along the road. His life is transformed, not only can he see but he becomes a follower of Jesus. Truly Jesus has the power to transform our lives, whatever the outward circumstances he can help us see things in a new way.
A wonderful miracle, a deeply symbolic miracle. Bartimaeus was blind but he could still see who Jesus was – the ‘Son of David’, ‘the Messiah and Saviour’. Many of those around him who could see with their eyes were unable to see who Jesus was. The eyes are crucial we would say and yet there are still blind people who live very full lives. For there is another sight, an inner sight that enables us to look at things in a different way – the sight of faith. It enables us to see good things, wholesome things, even in the most difficult situations. Oh Lord that we may see with the sight of faith.
This week's newsletter
The Order of the Mass
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
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To watch other videos about St Catherine's please see our Parish YouTube channel