Jeremiah 31:7-9 Psalm 126 Hebrews 5:1-6 Mark 10:46-52
FILLED WITH JOY It has been said that joy is an infallible sign of the presence of God. A thread of joy runs through today's liturgy. Jeremiah prophesies the joy of the exiles returning from their captivity in Babylon. The Responsorial, Psalm 126, also refers to the return of the exiles: "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy." And the gospel relates the joy of blind Bartimaeus as he receives his healing and follows Jesus.
JEREMIAH The first reading is Jeremiah picturing the return of the exiles from their captivity in Assyria. Just as the Lord delivered the northern tribes from Assyria, so will the Lord lead the southern tribe of Judah back from Babylon. This is a word of consolation from Jeremiah, encouraging his listeners to "shout with joy...exult...proclaim your praise." The Responsorial Psalm indicates that "those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing." GOSPEL Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record Jesus healing blindness at Jericho. Today's gospel from Mark is distinctive in that he gives the blind man's name—Bartimaeus. We hear the desperation in blind Bartimaeus' plea: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." When the crowd tried to quiet him, he "cried out all the more." Jesus stopped and asked what he wanted. "Master, I want to see." Jesus then said to him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Bartimaeus, now healed, ends up following Jesus. We can only imagine the joy he must have felt! HEBREWS The second reading from Hebrews talks about the priesthood. A priest is a man, taken from among men, to represent them in offering sacrifices for sins. Because the priest is himself "beset with weakness," he must be patient with the ignorant and erring. Only God can call someone to the priesthood, just as God the Father called Jesus to be a priest. The reading closes with two quotes: "You are my son: this day I have begotten you" (Psalm 2:7); and "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4). JOY AND SIGHT Scripture commentators see Jesus giving sight to the blind as symbolic of granting spiritual sight and insight. Giving sight to the blind was one of the signs of the messianic mission of Jesus (cf. Matt. 11:5; Luke 7:22). There were a number of individuals in various locales whose blindness was healed by Jesus. Matthew records a healing in Capernaum (cf. Matt. 9:27-31). Mark tells of one in Bethsaida (cf. Mark 8:22-26), unusual because the restoration of full sight takes place in stages. John relates the lengthy account of the man in Jerusalem who was born blind (cf. John 9:1-41). As there was great joy manifested at the regaining of physical sight, how much more joy should there be at receiving spiritual sight and healing from Jesus!