October 27, 2024
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Psalm 126
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52
The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Joy is the emotion that comes with the knowledge that, through good and bad and everything in between, someone has been with us. We have not been alone. This is most true when it comes to recognizing God’s presence.
God Himself exhorts our ancestors to acknowledge God’s presence with Joy. The Prophet Jeremiah says, “Shout for joy for Jacob, exalt at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.”
In our earthly life, the full range of emotions is experienced. Emotions may swing from sadness to levity, for example. You might think of other emotions you have experienced. In all, Joy seems to me to be of greatest depth. It is triggered by another person coming into proximity with us. It speaks most clearly of relationships. On the other hand, the telling of a joke may cause levity. You laugh for the moment and then it is over. When I think of Joy, it seems its effect is much longer lasting. It goes beyond a brief moment because it is related to a human relationship.
Having a spouse, for example, fills the day with Joy. You are aware of the other from moment to moment. A husband’s mind wanders from time to time to thoughts of his wife. Likewise, the wife’s musing during the day goes to her husband. Each person has a sense of fulfillment in the spousal relationship. There is fulness of life.
In the gospel story Bartimaeus, the blind man receives sight. At the prospect of receiving healing from Jesus, the man throws off his cloak! That is, he throws away the only protection he had, the cloak, in order to encounter Jesus. In essence, Bartimaeus makes himself naked before the Lord. He trusted that Jesus would fulfill his needs. He deeply sensed such would be true. Bartimaeus “followed him (Jesus) on the way.” To me, Bartimaeus displays Joy. Nothing else was valuable anymore. The only value was being in the presence of Jesus Christ. The relationship with the Lord was paramount! He needed to be in the presence of Jesus forever more.
As I look back over my life so far, I notice the times the Lord has been with me. I must say, at this point in my life, I sense the Lord’s presence at all times. I am not alone even when people might abandon me. And there have been moments of abandonment by others. And while I am sad when that happens, I still experience joy because I know God is with me.
From my experience, I want to assure you, the Lord is always present. That is the role of the Holy Spirit. Please reach out to God. Simply lay yourself out to Him, “Lord, here I am! Have mercy on me a sinner.”
Note: If you have been feeling profoundly sad and you are hopeless that you will ever feel better again, seek someone to talk to. You might and may be experiencing a clinical condition that is not a religious spiritual matter. If you feel you want to be dead and that you want to end your earthly life, definitely reach out for help. Do not be embarrassed you are not “making it up.” Dial 988 and speak to a person who is ready to listen to you and get you through the moment and to a better place emotionally.
Fr. Bob
God Himself exhorts our ancestors to acknowledge God’s presence with Joy. The Prophet Jeremiah says, “Shout for joy for Jacob, exalt at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.”
In our earthly life, the full range of emotions is experienced. Emotions may swing from sadness to levity, for example. You might think of other emotions you have experienced. In all, Joy seems to me to be of greatest depth. It is triggered by another person coming into proximity with us. It speaks most clearly of relationships. On the other hand, the telling of a joke may cause levity. You laugh for the moment and then it is over. When I think of Joy, it seems its effect is much longer lasting. It goes beyond a brief moment because it is related to a human relationship.
Having a spouse, for example, fills the day with Joy. You are aware of the other from moment to moment. A husband’s mind wanders from time to time to thoughts of his wife. Likewise, the wife’s musing during the day goes to her husband. Each person has a sense of fulfillment in the spousal relationship. There is fulness of life.
In the gospel story Bartimaeus, the blind man receives sight. At the prospect of receiving healing from Jesus, the man throws off his cloak! That is, he throws away the only protection he had, the cloak, in order to encounter Jesus. In essence, Bartimaeus makes himself naked before the Lord. He trusted that Jesus would fulfill his needs. He deeply sensed such would be true. Bartimaeus “followed him (Jesus) on the way.” To me, Bartimaeus displays Joy. Nothing else was valuable anymore. The only value was being in the presence of Jesus Christ. The relationship with the Lord was paramount! He needed to be in the presence of Jesus forever more.
As I look back over my life so far, I notice the times the Lord has been with me. I must say, at this point in my life, I sense the Lord’s presence at all times. I am not alone even when people might abandon me. And there have been moments of abandonment by others. And while I am sad when that happens, I still experience joy because I know God is with me.
From my experience, I want to assure you, the Lord is always present. That is the role of the Holy Spirit. Please reach out to God. Simply lay yourself out to Him, “Lord, here I am! Have mercy on me a sinner.”
Note: If you have been feeling profoundly sad and you are hopeless that you will ever feel better again, seek someone to talk to. You might and may be experiencing a clinical condition that is not a religious spiritual matter. If you feel you want to be dead and that you want to end your earthly life, definitely reach out for help. Do not be embarrassed you are not “making it up.” Dial 988 and speak to a person who is ready to listen to you and get you through the moment and to a better place emotionally.
Fr. Bob
Peace and blessings,
Father Bob
Father Bob
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Video Reflections
Each week Father Bob posts a Video Reflection on the Spiritual readings for the weekend Mass. These Videos are not intended to replace your prescence at mass each week! Much like Scripture Sharing on Thursday evening from 7 pm - 8 pm, these videos act as a point of reference to enhance your knowledge and better prepare you to participate in each weeks celebration.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
Each week the videos are archive and can be streamed by clicking on the Bulletin/Videos button above.
The Jesus Prayer...
Lord Jesus Christ
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.
have Mercy on me a Poor Sinner.
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
Click on the links below for more information
Sacraments of Healing
Sacraments of Service
This Weeks Scripture Readings
October 27, 2024
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I
Jer 31:7-9
Thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them back
from the land of the north;
I will gather them from the ends of the world,
with the blind and the lame in their midst,
the mothers and those with child;
they shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
Ephraim is my first-born.
Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations;
proclaim your praise and say:
The LORD has delivered his people,
the remnant of Israel.
Behold, I will bring them back
from the land of the north;
I will gather them from the ends of the world,
with the blind and the lame in their midst,
the mothers and those with child;
they shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
For I am a father to Israel,
Ephraim is my first-born.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 126
R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Reading II
Heb 5:1-6
Brothers and sisters:
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
Every high priest is taken from among men
and made their representative before God,
to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring,
for he himself is beset by weakness
and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself
as well as for the people.
No one takes this honor upon himself
but only when called by God,
just as Aaron was.
In the same way,
it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest,
but rather the one who said to him:
You are my son:
this day I have begotten you;
just as he says in another place:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.
Alleluia
Cf. 2 Tm 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Gospel
Mk 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
Next Weeks Readings
November 3, 2024
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm 18
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28b-34
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm 18
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28b-34
Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
Amen
Amen