Dear Parishioners,
You’ll notice in the Gospels that it varies whether someone with whom Jesus has an interaction follows him or not. Peter and Andrew (and all the apostles) meet Jesus and follow him. Mary Magdalene follows Jesus too. But then there are some who–for both good and bad reasons–do not follow Jesus. It doesn’t mean they don’t become believers. It’s just that they’re not called to be on the front lines of evangelization. The man possessed by Legion in the Decapolis who is exorcized by Jesus will remain in the Decapolis. The centurion whose slave Jesus cures remains a centurion in Capernaum; same with Jairus the synagogue official whose daughter Jesus resuscitates. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus stay in Bethany and Jesus visits them when he’s nearby.
Some follow on the road, some remain behind. We’re not all meant to be on the road with the crowd. Is Jesus calling you to go out or to “stay at home?” If it’s to stay at home, there are little acts of faith and love that you are meant to do. Those little acts are just as significant as the “large” acts of preaching the Good News.
Bartimaeus, from today’s Gospel, is an “on the road” figure. He was blind and cured by Jesus. The last line of the Gospel: “Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.”
What made Bartimaeus qualified to be a disciple, an evangelist? He had been sitting on the road outside of Jericho his entire life. He was infirm and couldn’t do anything. He received no formal education and had no connections. He had nothing. He was poor.
Because Bartimaeus was blind he had an excellent sense of hearing. And because he was poor he could only receive. I said above that Bartimaeus had no formal education. Sure, but imagine what he must have heard from the side of the road–all the conversations and discussions. Jericho was a pretty active place on the way to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus certainly had street smarts. Street smarts are gained by observing, paying attention, and listening. If we are inflated by our ego and always trying to tell people how much we know, we can’t listen and learn. We may be book smart, but the books won’t cut it out on the road with our Lord.
Most of you, I’ve come to realize, have incredible street smarts. Not to say you don’t have the book smarts also, but you’re savvy in dealing with the world. You’re good listeners and you know how to get the job done. Which means you’re ready to join Bartimaeus and go on the road with our Lord.
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October we celebrate Inclusion Month, and at the end of the 10:30am Mass this Sunday we will honor some of our parishioners who add so much to our community. The Knights of Columbus will also present a donation to Avenues for Independence. Thank you, Knights, for your generosity.
There will be a Candlelight Rosary this Tuesday, October 29th at 7:30pm in the upper church, hosted by our Respect Life Committee. This is a beautiful way to end the month dedicated both to Respect for Life and to the rosary.
Friday, November 1st is the Solemnity of All Saints, a holy day of obligation. Our Mass schedule will be as follows: 6:25am, 8:30am, 12pm, and 7pm.
Saturday, November 2nd is the Feast of All Souls. We will have our regular 8:30am Mass that day. The 4:30pm Saturday evening Mass will also be the regular Sunday Vigil Mass. We will read all the names of the deceased from the previous year after Communion at that Mass, and families are invited to bring a picture of their loved ones to that Mass. There will not be a separate All Souls Remembrance Mass–it will take place at the 4:30pm Mass.
The Stuff-the-Truck and Coat Drive events also take place next weekend, November 2/3. A special thank you to those who are organizing the event, those who have donated the truck, and all of you for contributions.
I hope you all enjoy your Halloween and collect lots of candy. I will say an extra prayer for the intercession of St. Apollonia, who is the patron saint of teeth, cavities, dentists, and so forth.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. James
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