Suggested Reading: MARK 10: 46-52
For many of us
our faith is very personal and secretive. When we gather in community to
worship God we still feel a little uncomfortable professing our faith. Being
open about our relationship with God can be difficult and even sometimes
embarrassing. Overall, the preference seems to be silence and secrecy. Yet, we
are encouraged to do the complete opposite. Coming forward to worship god
should be not only a personal experience but a collective experience as well.
Jesus does not want us to hide his love away. This has a repressing effect on
what his presence can do for us. He is very explicit about this when he tells
his disciples that they are the Light of the World. “No one after lighting a
lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light
to all in the house.” This is intended for us also. As receivers of God’s Love
we must react to this openly and publicly. There is no more dwelling in the
shadows. We are Children of the Light.
In the Gospel
Reading today Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on
me.” Our prayers, our joys, and our lamentations should be approached the same
way. For it is through professing our love for God that we receive relief,
comfort, and indescribable joy. Jesus demonstrates this through the healing of
Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus expressed his faith and his prayers were answered. His
faith also transformed his life from a beggar to a follower of Jesus. Our
prayers can be answered. Our lives can be transformed through an open, honest,
and trusting relationship with Our God. Arguably this is directly against what
society wants us to do. In comparison, society tries minimize the influence of
Jesus; coercing us into a shallow relationship with God; enticing us to rely
more on it than that which should be central to our existence: a full
acceptance and celebration of our creator. It is a trap set by Satan who seeks
to divide us with thoughts of disbelief and material longing.
God, through the
Prophet Jeremiah, commands us to “Shout with joy for Jacob,
exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise” It should not be our
intention to remain silent or be embarrassed at who we are or what we are
becoming. Our relationship with God should be a joyous event; one that we must
bear witness to all of our days. It is through the lowering of our self-created
barriers that we can experience God more fully and completely. The impact this
can have on our existence is immeasurable by human standards. God has put us in
the forefront of all nations and all of creation. That is how much he loves us
and wants us to experience indescribable joy. How can we shy away from this? So
much is offered and yet we are hesitant about grasping it? Jesus is all about
fulfilling the Human Experience which is undoubtedly connected with becoming
closer to him. It is through Jesus that we all can see the world and the entire
universe as it was intended for us to see it: through Christ and with Christ.
Deacon Tom
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