How much do you rely on the Lord?
We usually associate the prophet Jeremiah with dire warnings
about the breaking of covenant, and indeed the Book of Jeremiah is full of
oracles about exile and the fall of Jerusalem.
Yet in the midst of all this we also find oracles about the eventual
restoration of Israel and Judah. And
when that restoration comes, God promises to take care of the most vulnerable
first: I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and lame
in their midst, the mothers and those with child. Those who have suffered most will be led to brooks of water on a level road;
God will restore them to life. It is
this restoration -- and the amazement that it caused -- that is celebrated in
Psalm 126: When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, our mouth was filled
with laughter and our tongue with rejoicing. Their faith has resulted in restoration to
prosperity and joy.
In Mark's Gospel, the disciples have not exactly
demonstrated that they understand God's plan in sending Jesus, the high priest described in Hebrews, to
become a sacrifice for the salvation -- the restoration -- of all. But the blind beggar Bartimaeus does:
sitting humbly in a crowd that Jesus is passing through, Bartimaeus
calls upon the Lord to help him: Son of David, have pity on me! Throwing away his cloak -- his most
significant possession and very likely his home -- is an extraordinary act of
faith: faith that Jesus can work his
powers of restoration for him, in him.
When he does, Bartimaeus immediately becomes a follower, a
disciple. But notice that he believes
before his vision is restored: physical
sight will make it easier for Bartimaeus to follow the Lord, but spiritual sight
has been his all along. His faith has
led the vulnerable Bartimaeus to rely upon and follow the Lord.
Do you rely on Jesus? Then follow!
This post is based on Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
Image source: Wordle
