30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Faith is a Response

Dearly beloved sisters and brothers, peace be with you. On the culmination today of our Rosary Month devotion, may I invite you for a reflection. Let us focus our reflection today on the Gospel, this extraordinary encounter with the Lord Jesus. With this story of the healing of Bartimaeus, we will understand what faith means, what faith is all about. (In this story, Jesus did not say, I will heal you. Instead, he proclaimed, your faith has saved you.

Why is that interesting? It was Jesus who healed Bartimaeus from his blindness. But it was Bartimaeus’ faith that opened up the possibility of this miracle, of his healing. The possibility of a real experience of God’s goodness through our Lord Jesus Christ. This will help us understand what faith is about, what it means to believe in God. For many people today, especially in secular societies like in Europe, faith is an abstract idea. Belief connected with those who lack education and enlightenment.

1st Reading Jer 31:7-9
2nd Reading Heb 5:1-6
Gospel Mk 10:46-52