Daily Readings - Sun Oct 24 2021

⁷For thus says the Lord: "Exult in the joy of Jacob, and neigh before the head of the Gentiles. Shout, and sing, and say: ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel!⁸Behold, I will lead them from the land of the north, and I will gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, she who is with child, together with she who is giving birth: a great assembly returning to this place⁹They will approach with weeping. And I will lead them back with mercy. And I will lead them through the torrents of water, by an upright way, and they will not stumble in it. For I have become Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Hebrews

Chapter 5

¹For every high priest, having been taken from among men, is appointed on behalf of men toward the things which pertain to God, so that he may offer gifts and sacrifices on behalf of sins²he is able to commiserate with those who are ignorant and who wander astray, because he himself is also encompassed by infirmity³And because of this, he also must make such offerings for sins even for himself, in the same manner as for the people⁴Neither does anyone take up this honor himself, but rather he who is called by God, just as Aaron was⁵Thus, even Christ did not glorify himself, so as to become High Priest, but instead, it was God who said to him: "You are my Son. Today I have begotten you.⁶And similarly, he says in another place: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.

Mark

Chapter 10

⁴⁶And they went to Jericho. And as he was setting out from Jericho with his disciples and a very numerous multitude, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind man, sat begging beside the way⁴⁷And when he had heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and to say, "Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me.⁴⁸And many admonished him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, take pity on me.⁴⁹And Jesus, standing still, instructed him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him: "Be at peace. Arise. He is calling you.⁵⁰And casting aside his garment, he leapt up and went to him⁵¹And in response, Jesus said to him, "What do you want, that I should do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, that I may see.⁵²Then Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has made you whole." And immediately he saw, and he followed him on the way

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of hope, compassion, and faith. The Prophet Jeremiah paints a vivid picture of God’s mercy, leading His people back from exile with a promise of healing and restoration. This message is not just historical; it resonates with the universal human experience of seeking redemption and return to a loving God. The Letter to the Hebrews deepens this understanding by presenting Christ as our High Priest, who, through His divine appointment, empathizes with our weaknesses and intercedes on our behalf. This portrayal emphasizes Christ’s unique role in bridging the gap between humanity and divinity. In the Gospel of Mark, we witness this theology in action through the story of Bartimaeus, a blind man whose persistent faith leads to his healing. His cry for mercy reflects our own need to reach out to God with trust and perseverance. These readings intertwine beautifully, illustrating God’s consistent desire to heal and restore. Jeremiah’s vision of a merciful return finds fulfillment in Christ, who, as the ultimate High Priest, embodies compassion and understanding. Bartimaeus’s story in Mark exemplifies how this divine mercy is accessible to all who call out in faith. His healing is not just physical but also spiritual, mirroring the restoration God promises to His people. In our daily lives, we often face our own forms of blindness—whether spiritual, emotional, or relational. The readings invite us to acknowledge these areas and to cry out to God with the same persistence as Bartimaeus. Christ, our High Priest, understands our struggles and invites us to approach Him with confidence. May we embrace the lesson that faith and perseverance lead to healing and restoration. Let us trust in God’s mercy and allow Christ to guide us through life’s challenges, just as He led Bartimaeus to see anew.