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Gospel Reading for October 27, 2024 – Mark 10: 46-52
“SUPERHERO”
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.
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As Jesus told the blind man, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” In short, if the blind man did not have faith in Jesus, he would not have received his sight. This is the POWER OF FAITH. God will always be there for us, but it is not a one-way thing. We need to do our part – We need to BELIEVE in him.
“And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.”
Agnostics are people who believe that there is no way for human beings to know if God really exists. In short, they do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, who became human to reveal to us the truth of God’s existence. Then, there are the Atheists who do not believe that God exists. Then, there are Satanists who worship Satan and everything that’s evil. These people will persuade us Christians, to believe as they do.
How can Agnostics make as believe the way they do when we have the Sacred Scriptures that narrate how human beings disobeyed God and got themselves into a mess which Jesus, the Son of God had to “fix” in order for humanity to be saved? How can Atheists make us believe that God does not exist when we are able to go into the depths of our being and find God’s presence in our life? How can we even support Satanism when we are against evil which has and still causes so much suffering around the world? And in all these, if they do persuade us, what good will it do to us? How will we benefit from it? What good will it do for the world? Will the world be better?
Being a Christian, having faith in God, is such a PRICELESS GIFT! It gives our life meaning; It makes us give positive contribution to humanity, to the world; And despite challenges, we know we are not alone. We have a real “SUPERHERO” to help us when we are in distress, and who will always make sure we are safe from the evil one. We cannot be blind to the ways of the evil one. We will always receive our sight because of our Faith in God!
For us Christians, everyday of our life is a step towards God, a step nearer to God, looking forward to that day when we will finally be reunited with him in eternity!
As the Titanic was sinking, the people who had no way to leave the ship, including the musicians, sang this song written by Sarah and Eliza Flower. We need not be on the verge of death, but everyday should be NEARER MY GOD TO THEE –
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross
that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
nearer to Thee!
Though like the wanderer,
the sun gone down,
darkness be over me,
my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to Thee.
There let the way appear,
steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me,
in mercy giv’n;
Angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to Thee.
Then, with my waking thoughts
bright with Thy praise;
Out of my stony griefs
Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to Thee.
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to Thee.
There in my Father’s home,
safe and at rest,
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
