Thirtieth (30th) Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B Homily
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The first reading which comes from book of Jeremiah 31:7-9 was written as a message of hope and restoration for the people of Israel. During a time of exile and suffering, these verses promise that God will bring His people back from captivity and gather them from the distant lands where they have been scattered. It highlights God’s compassion and His commitment to caring for His people, leading them back with tenderness and guiding them on a safe path.
The message is meant to reassure the exiled community that despite their current hardships, God’s ultimate plan is to restore and bless them. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness and the promise of a brighter future. Hope that gives you a sense of comfort and resilience.
For you and I today, this message serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how lost or scattered we may feel, there is always a path back to God and to wholeness. Today, it can be seen as a promise that in times of difficulty, we are not abandoned. God’s compassion and guidance are ever-present, leading us towards a future filled with grace and renewal.
Every time you face a difficult challenge don’t despair. Remember that you are not alone. You are not abandoned. God is with you, and is ready to bring restoration in your life.
In this reading the Lord says He will gather and bring back the REMNANTS of Israel from the ends of the earth where they had scattered. Here the word “remnant is very important. Who are the remnants?
A remnant means a left-over amount from a larger portion or piece, whether it is food, material from which a garment is fashioned, or even a group of people (those left over from a larger group. Although remnants could be looked upon as worthless scraps, God assigned high value to those of His people whom He had set aside for holy purposes, those He labels as “remnants” in several places in the Bible. In this reading, He mentions some examples of remnants. They include;
“the blind, the lame, the mothers and those with child”. These are mentioned as remnants because in those days they depended entirely on others for survival. The blind survived on the help of those with sight. The lame survived on the help of those with no physical impediment, mothers survived on their husbands and children survived on their parents.
In spite of their dependency on others, God promises to restore them. God promises them that one day they will no longer look up to people but to God for their survival.
Dear friend, you too could be a remnant in some ways. You look insignificant, you lost what you had. Probably you lost a good job. You lost your money. You lost your child or children. You lost your marriage, you lost your properties. You lost your friendship with someone whom you once loved so much. You lost your status in society etc….. Today, I have good news for you. You are not alone. God wants to restore you. The God who brought back the remnants of Israel is the same God who is here to restore your life. Just allow Him to restore you.
The passage of today’s first reading reassures us that even in our darkest moments, there is a promise of a brighter tomorrow. It encourages us to trust in God’s plan, have faith in His timing, and to believe that restoration and joy are within reach. Let this message inspire resilience and hope in your own life, knowing that there is always a path to healing and renewal.
In the gospel which comes from the book of Mark 10:46-52 we see Jesus healing and restoring blind remnant called Bartimaeus.
In this passage, Jesus and His disciples are leaving Jericho when they encounter Bartimaeus, a blind beggar. Hearing that Jesus is passing by, Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Despite being rebuked by the crowd, he continues to call out. Jesus stops, calls him over, and asks what he wants. Bartimaeus replies, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Jesus tells him, “Go, your faith has healed you.” Immediately, Bartimaeus regains his sight and follows Jesus along the road.
Bartimaeus’ relentless cries for Jesus, despite the crowd’s attempts to silence him, exemplify unwavering faith. He recognizes Jesus as the Messiah and believes in His power to heal. Like Bartimaeus, we have to be persistent in our faith and pray relentlessly despite our surroundings. Jesus stopped and listened to Bartimaeus, showing His deep compassion and willingness to attend to individual needs, regardless of societal status or opposition from the crowd. This shows that Jesus attends to each person’s needs.
The healing of Bartimaeus is not just physical but also spiritual and social. His restored sight symbolizes enlightenment and a renewed path of discipleship and social integration as he chooses to follow Jesus.
Like Bartimaeus, we should have faith that perseveres, even when faced with obstacles or discouragement from others. Jesus’ response to Bartimaeus highlights that no cry for help is too small or insignificant for Him. We can always approach Him with our needs and concerns.
Bartimaeus had a profound transformative encounter when Jesus called for him. He even threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. This signified a great transformation. For Bartimaeus meeting Jesus was more important than all possessions he had. He threw away something that was at the center of his life.
Even us today, we need to throw aside something in order to follow Jesus. We need to throw away our bad habits. We need to throw aside some relationships if we are to follow Jesus faithfully. We need to throw aside some addictions if we are to follow Jesus faithfully. We need to throw aside some bad thoughts…..and many others.
What do you have to throw away today? Ask Jesus to have pity on you. “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me” X3
Just as Bartimaeus’ life changed, our faith in Jesus can bring about significant changes in our own lives. Jesus’ actions teach us to be compassionate and attentive to the needs of others, regardless of their status or situation.
Fr. Stephen Kakande C.S.Sp