30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

1st Reading            Jeremiah 31: 7-9

Psalm                      126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (R. cf. 3)

R//: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy

2nd Reading        Hebrews 5: 1-6

Gospel                   Mark 10: 46-52

THE LORD PREPARES A ROAD FOR YOU

People of God, today is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). We are just 3 weeks away from the end of the liturgical year. We shall realise that our readings will start focusing on the end of certain things. Today is also the last Sunday of October (2024). We shall bring our community and ecclesial praying of the Holy Rosary to an end. Let us, however, endeavour to continue praying it individually to deepen our Christian lives and continually unite ourselves to Mary, the Mother of our Blessed Lord.

The first reading is from Jeremiah 31: 7-9. Let us keep in mind that this passage is within the context of the Babylonian exile (c. 587 BC — 570 BC). Jeremiah, who is known to be speaking words of punishment and doom, surprisingly is saying something about freedom and redemption. Remember that Israel will go into exile during the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions. Jeremiah says that a full procession will be made back home from that exile. Those who are returning home are the "remnants" (the she'eriyth). The word is used to describe what is left usually after a period of destruction. These are people who are left after the invasions. The remnants refer to the small number of those who have escaped the calamity of the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions. 

Jeremiah mentions "the land of the north" (v. 8). That land is Babylon, which is located north of Judah. The north symbolises invasion and exile (Jer. 3: 18; 6: 2; 10: 22). 

With the mention of "remnants" and the indication that Israel was captive in a foreign land, we quickly go back to Israel's stay in Egypt. Their movement from Egypt to Canaan is the Exodus. What Jeremiah is saying is a kind of a new Exodus. In fact, he recalls the first Exodus by mentioning "streams of water" and "level road" (Jer. 31: 9). This brings on the events in Exodus 17: 1-7, Numbers 20: 1-13, and Isaiah 40:4. The question of the requisition of the land comes to mind once again. To reacquire that land, they have to make a journey back to it. Interestingly, those making the journey are remnants. The state of these remnants is told. Ultimately, they are called "an immense throng" (v. 8). The word "throng" as used is QAHAL, which is a company or an organized worshipping community (Exod. 16: 3). This is a Church, people called and gathered by God himself.

These remnants are composed of the blind, the lame, pregnant women, and women in labour. These people are symbols of suffering and marginalization. The remnants consist of poor and suffering exiles, exploited and despised men. What is so special about these people is that they all need help. Initially, it beats our imagination to find these people walking back. A blind man cannot see the road back home. A lame man knows the road but cannot walk. A woman with a child has an extra burden. A woman in labour is faced with difficulty in walking long distances. In all these cases, they need help so that they can walk on the LEVEL ROAD back home. 

It is within the provision of this help that we find the miraculous aspect of walking to their home. Clearly, I want to suggest that the first reading is organized around the thought of walking on the ROAD (Heb: Derek). Even with signs of suffering, defeat, and weakness, the Lord wants to restore them. He wants to do something miraculous with those with these. He wants to do a kind of thing that is unimaginable. 

The end of the exile is marked by walking on the ROAD back home. In the Ancient Near East, roads were often rough, winding, and treacherous. The Lord is providing a LEVEL ROAD, a smooth one, a kind which has never been seen. The level road is a guarantee of safe travel, not even the signs of suffering and weakness will hinder treading that road. 

The Gospel passage from Mark 10: 46-52 works along our consideration of walking on the ROAD. Jesus goes to Jericho and heals a man called Bartimaeus. Remember that it was on the road to the same Jericho that a man was stripped and beaten by robbers (Lk. 10: 30- 37). The indication is that the incident occurred on a ROAD. Also, Zacchaeus saw Jesus in Jericho and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus (Lk. 19: 1-10). The sense is that Jesus was walking on the road. 

The Gospel today is enclosed within walking on the ROAD. Jesus was leaving Jericho, and he found Bartimaeus "sitting at the side of the ROAD" (v. 46). Everyone who uses that road heads towards Jerusalem. In fact, the next place we hear Jesus going to is Jerusalem (Mk. 11: 1). The Temple is in Jerusalem. We would expect that anyone living outside Jerusalem is going up to Jerusalem to worship. Bartimaeus is blind, and he cannot walk that Road. His condition is likened to a remnant as we found in the first reading. He was healed by Jesus. What we find later is that he followed Jesus "on the way" (v. 52). Bartimaeus can safely and confidently, without hindrance, go to Jerusalem with Jesus. 

Beloved, as we reflect on our own journey, especially through the liturgical year, we recognize the hurdles, challenges, and impediments – our exiles – that hinder our return to the Lord. These may be sin, disappointment, pain, or frustration.

However, with the Lord, nothing hinders our restoration. He provides a smooth road, guaranteeing safe travel. The Lord himself prepares a ROAD to lead us back to our restoration and union with him.

Pax et Bonum