A homily for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 27, 2024
Jer 31:7-9, Heb 5:1-6, Mk 10:46-52
One of the cultural touchstones that “Seinfeld” wove into America’s consciousness was “Serenity Now.”
George Costanza’s father, Frank, is told by a supposedly inspirational tape to say “serenity now” every time he gets angry as a possible way to keep his blood pressure down. And Frank barks the phrase often, loudly and angrily.
“Serenity Now!”
“Now” being the operative word.
“Now” is just so, so American.
“Now” is how we live. How we shop, especially online. How we overschedule ourselves. How we dine out, e. coli-tainted slivered onions be damned. How we stream binge-able programs. We want all the episodes now.
We want serenity now. Patience now. Faith now. Peace now. Love now.
Sight — and insight — now. Now, dagnabbit.
But how long do we keep them? Are they as disposable and replaceable as Bic lighters?
My dad often cited a proverbial comparison between a paper fire and a log fire. The paper lights quickly, burns hot, then burns out just as quickly. The logs take longer to catch; they start slowly but intensify into a roaring blaze, and that inferno lasts long.
Are we embracing our faith for the long term?
I’m not a good planner. I need a deadline to dictate what must be done and when, and I organize backward from there. I envy those who can look ahead, way ahead, at the details of life’s journey. Then again, some people admire those of us who can pack light and pivot.
What all of us, planners and roll-with-its, have in common is sharing the road God set before us. We each have a beginning. We each have a unique exit ramp.
And we can see our lane, and stay in it, if we choose to. Because God offers us true sight, regardless of the condition of our eyes. Like Bartimaeus (we’ll get to him in a minute).
God makes it possible for us to follow him for the long term.
God challenges us to follow him for the long term.
To be blunt, God demands that we follow him for the long term, and likewise demands that we live the Gospel, care for humankind and all of Creation, and celebrate our salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus. Every day of our lives.
A k a the long term.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, whom we quote in our first reading today, God reassures us that the road ahead will be level and smooth, a source of joy. Not too shabby, considering the ancient infrastructure in the Holy Land. Not too shabby, considering how often the Israelites had good reason to be downcast.
And when the road ahead reduces the possibility of stumbling, we travelers should have no qualms about continuing our journey, whether literal or figurative, earthly or spiritual.
The Letter to the Hebrews likewise mentions the patience of God’s representatives. We can hear the whining of 2- and 3-year-olds in the description of how the ignorant are complaining. Why are they ignorant? Why are they complaining? About what? I suspect they lack faith, the belief that — as the prophet Jeremiah reminds us — God’s plans for us are for our own good.
Sometimes we’re ignorant, and it takes a while for us to see — and buy into — God’s plans for us. Eternal God is all about the long term.
And thus, we meet Bartimaeus.
His faith in Jesus and his healing power saved him, gave him eyesight. But even with clouded retinas, Bartimaeus already saw who Jesus is and how he had come to save humankind from their tendency to turn away from God’s true light.
Let’s hope we all share that vision.
Today’s reading from Mark’s Gospel ends simply, beautifully, powerfully:
Immediately [Bartimaeus] received his sight and followed [Jesus] on the way.
Let’s all see if we have the sight and the patience to see Christ’s light and follow it.
For the long term.
