The scripture passages proposed for the celebration of the Lord's day paint a picture of a place where everyone will be welcome. Even in this life, we can practice this virtue.
This past week, municipal elections were held throughout Ontario. In some cases, the people that will sit in council chambers did not change, but there are some who will no longer be there, and there are some new faces that will now take their places. As with every such change, there will be a period of adjustment but the work of creating and sustaining communities must go on.
Communities can be defined in various ways: some people belong to the same families, some attend the same schools, some are employed by the same company and some pray according to the same faith tradition. In each of these cases ... and many more, individuals seek the experience of community. This is not something new. The creation accounts in the Book of Genesis speak of a community being formed when God created Adam and Eve. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God brought his people from the land of the north ... from the furthest parts of the earth ... Led by the Lord they walked by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they did not stumble (Jer 31:8-9).
Even in the time of Jesus, we see evidence of God’s work as he led His people to encounter one another and taught them how to walk together along the paths of life. The gospel passage we have heard today speaks of the encounter that Jesus had with Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who was sitting by the roadside (cf Mk 10:46). It’s interesting to note that at the beginning of the story, Bartimaeus is all alone. The other people who are there try to stop him from calling out to Jesus, as though he is a bother, but he is persistent, and Jesus chooses him to provide the example by which we all should live. Imagine their surprise when Jesus instructed them to bring this blind beggar to him. Perhaps he had supporters in the crowd, or maybe there was a sudden change of heart among those who had previously tried to silence him. In any case, voices of encouragement began to be heard: Take heart, get up, he is calling you (Mk 10:49).
In our time too, each of us tries day by day to make our way through life. We sometimes encounter many turns in the road, but we do not make this journey alone. At times, it might seem as though we are on our own, especially when people try to exclude us with words and gestures of judgment, but like Bartimaeus, we must be persistent in our prayer, knowing that Jesus always hears the cries of those who need his help.
When they had brought him to Jesus, Bartimaeus was finally able to make his plea: My teacher, let me see again (Mk 10:51). How many in our world are still crying out to Jesus, pleading for his help? Among them, we can count those who are suffering from physical ailments, but there are also others like refugees who have been displaced. Closer to home, there are many of our brothers and sisters who are newcomers even in this land, and there are those – like our indigenous neighbours – who live right next door to us and yet seem so distant from us.
Bartimaeus provides us all with an example of faith and perseverance that longs to hear the words of Jesus in response: Go, your faith has made you well (Mk 10:52). With these words, Jesus assured a blind beggar that there was a place for him in his heart. Jesus knows that each of us also has a similar cry, a need to be part of the community. Oh, how we long to hear such words of consolation spoken to us as well.
A place for everyone
This past week, municipal elections were held throughout Ontario. In some cases, the people that will sit in council chambers did not change, but there are some who will no longer be there, and there are some new faces that will now take their places. As with every such change, there will be a period of adjustment but the work of creating and sustaining communities must go on.
Communities can be defined in various ways: some people belong to the same families, some attend the same schools, some are employed by the same company and some pray according to the same faith tradition. In each of these cases ... and many more, individuals seek the experience of community. This is not something new. The creation accounts in the Book of Genesis speak of a community being formed when God created Adam and Eve. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that God brought his people from the land of the north ... from the furthest parts of the earth ... Led by the Lord they walked by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they did not stumble (Jer 31:8-9).
Even in the time of Jesus, we see evidence of God’s work as he led His people to encounter one another and taught them how to walk together along the paths of life. The gospel passage we have heard today speaks of the encounter that Jesus had with Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who was sitting by the roadside (cf Mk 10:46). It’s interesting to note that at the beginning of the story, Bartimaeus is all alone. The other people who are there try to stop him from calling out to Jesus, as though he is a bother, but he is persistent, and Jesus chooses him to provide the example by which we all should live. Imagine their surprise when Jesus instructed them to bring this blind beggar to him. Perhaps he had supporters in the crowd, or maybe there was a sudden change of heart among those who had previously tried to silence him. In any case, voices of encouragement began to be heard: Take heart, get up, he is calling you (Mk 10:49).
In our time too, each of us tries day by day to make our way through life. We sometimes encounter many turns in the road, but we do not make this journey alone. At times, it might seem as though we are on our own, especially when people try to exclude us with words and gestures of judgment, but like Bartimaeus, we must be persistent in our prayer, knowing that Jesus always hears the cries of those who need his help.
When they had brought him to Jesus, Bartimaeus was finally able to make his plea: My teacher, let me see again (Mk 10:51). How many in our world are still crying out to Jesus, pleading for his help? Among them, we can count those who are suffering from physical ailments, but there are also others like refugees who have been displaced. Closer to home, there are many of our brothers and sisters who are newcomers even in this land, and there are those – like our indigenous neighbours – who live right next door to us and yet seem so distant from us.
Bartimaeus provides us all with an example of faith and perseverance that longs to hear the words of Jesus in response: Go, your faith has made you well (Mk 10:52). With these words, Jesus assured a blind beggar that there was a place for him in his heart. Jesus knows that each of us also has a similar cry, a need to be part of the community. Oh, how we long to hear such words of consolation spoken to us as well.
Une place pour tous
La semaine dernière, des élections municipales ont eu lieu partout en Ontario. Dans certains cas, les personnes qui siégeront dans les chambres du conseil n'ont pas changé, mais certaines personnes ne seront plus là et certains nouveaux visages prendront désormais leur place. Comme pour tout changement de ce type, il y aura une période d'ajustement, mais le travail de la création et de soutien des communautés doit continuer.
Les communautés peuvent être définies de différentes manières: certaines personnes appartiennent à la même famille, certaines fréquentent les mêmes écoles, certaines sont employées par la même entreprise et certaines prient selon la même tradition religieuse. Dans chacun de ces cas ... et dans de nombreux autres cas, les individus recherchent l'expérience de la communauté. Ce n'est pas quelque chose de nouveau. Les récits de la création dans le livre de la Genèse parlent d'une communauté en formation lorsque Dieu créa Adam et Eve. Le prophète Jérémie nous dit que Dieu a amené son peuple du pays du nord ... des confins de la terre ... Conduits par le Seigneur, ils sont conduits vers les cours d’eau par un droit chemin où ils ne trébucheront pas (Jer 31,8-9).
Même à l’époque de Jésus, nous voyons des preuves du travail de Dieu lorsqu'il a amené son peuple à se rencontrer et lui a appris à marcher ensemble sur les chemins de la vie. Le passage de l'Évangile que nous avons entendu aujourd'hui parle de la rencontre de Jésus avec Bartimée, un mendiant aveugle assis au bord du chemin (cf Mc 10,46). Il est intéressant de noter qu’au début de l’histoire, Bartimée est tout seul. Les autres personnes présentes tentent de l'empêcher d'appeler Jésus, comme s'il le dérangeait, mais il persiste et Jésus le choisit pour donner l'exemple par lequel nous devrions tous vivre. Imaginez leur surprise quand Jésus leur a demandé de lui amener ce mendiant aveugle. Peut-être avait-il des partisans dans la foule ou peut-être y avait-il eu un revirement soudain chez ceux qui avaient précédemment essayé de le faire taire. En tout cas, des voix d'encouragement ont commencé à être entendues: Confiance, lève-toi, il t'appelle (Mc 10,49).
À notre époque aussi, chacun de nous tente jour après jour de se frayer un chemin dans la vie. Nous rencontrons parfois de nombreux tournants sur la route, mais nous ne faisons pas ce voyage seuls. Parfois, il peut sembler que nous sommes seuls, surtout quand les gens essaient de nous exclure avec des paroles et des gestes de jugement, mais comme Bartimée, nous devons être persistants dans notre prière, sachant que Jésus entend toujours les cris de ceux qui ont besoin de son appui.
Quand ils l'ont amené à Jésus, Bartimée a finalement pu plaidoyer sa cause: Rabbouni, que je retrouve ma vue! (Mc 10, 51). Combien de personnes dans notre monde réclament encore Jésus pour implorer son aide? Parmi eux, on peut compter ceux qui souffrent de maux physiques, mais il y en a aussi d'autres comme des réfugiés qui ont été déplacés. Plus près de chez nous, beaucoup de nos frères et soeurs sont des nouveaux arrivés, même dans ce pays, et il y en a, comme nos voisins autochtones, qui vivent tout près de chez nous et semblent pourtant si éloignés de nous.
Bartimée nous fournit à tous un exemple de foi et de persévérance qui souhaite entendre les paroles de Jésus en réponse à notre enquête: Va, ta foi t’a sauvé (Mc 10,52). Avec ces paroles, Jésus assura un mendiant aveugle qu'il y avait une place pour lui dans son cœur. Jésus sait que chacun de nous a également le même cri, le besoin de faire partie de la communauté. Ah, comme nous avons hâte d'entendre ces paroles de consolation nous aussi.
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