October 25, 2015
30th Sunday Ordinary Time
It was a long day on the bus. After staying in Galilee and seeing biblical places of interest, we were on the long trek down the Jordan River to Jerusalem. We took a break in Jericho by a large tree with a fence around it. Our guide said it was the sycamore tree that Zacchaeus climbs to see Jesus. Jericho is relatively a short distance from Jerusalem. The road is made famous by Jesus in his Parable of the Good Samaritan who stops to aid a traveler robbed and left to die. Jesus encounters two person in Jericho desiring “to see†him – Zacchaeus and Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus is blind and begging by the side of the road. He cries out: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.†The crowd tries to silence him but he cries out again. Jesus calls for him and asks: “What do you want me to do for you.†Bartimaeus replies: “I want to see.†We know from the words of Jesus: “Go, your faith has made you whole,†that the healing is physical and spiritual. He can see Jesus and the people around him but he also recognizes this moment as a healing and a calling to enter into relationship with Jesus. He does not just “go on his way†but follows Jesus “on the way.†Before anyone is called “Christian,†disciples of Jesus are called “followers of the way.†Today, we can ask ourselves how we would respond to question of Jesus: “What do you want me to do for you?†Do we wish “to see†who and what is most precious in life? Are we willing to follow Jesus to Jerusalem for his triumphal welcome, the cleansing of the temple, the Passover celebration, the Last Supper, his arrest, crucifixion and death on the cross? And ultimately to experience resurrection and Easter joy!
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