------------------------------------------------------------------------
* G * O * A * N * E * T **** C * L * A * S * S * I * F * I * E * D * S *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
House for Sale: Recently restored and renovated 350 sq. mtr
Antique Type House on 1,125 sq mtr property in Coimavaddo, Aldona
No brokerage offered. Serious buyers only
Visit http://www.goa-world.com/goa/aldonahouse for details
------------------------------------------------------------------------
23-Oct-2006
Dear Friend,
Today we have eliminated many of the diseases that cause blindness, and we
have invented all kinds of devices to improve our seeing. We have ordinary
glasses and bifocals, magnifying glasses, field glasses, telescopes and
microscopes, contact lenses and lens implants. But has our seeing improved?
Sometimes we just refuse to see! Can we see with the eyes of faith? Have an
insightful weekend! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Thirtieth Sunday of the Year Lord that I might see!
29-Oct.2006
Readings: Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Hebrews 5: 1-6;
Mark 10: 46-52;
In the first reading the prophet carries a message of hope for the exiles in
Babylon. The Lord will save what is left of his people and bring them back from
exile. Even the most helpless will share in the joy of this great event. The
people are in exile as once in Egypt. There will be a new exodus, as marvelous
as the old. Gods love, not human power, will again be triumphant because the
first to be delivered will be the feeble; the blind will receive sight from the
God of Israel. The reason for this hope is given by Yahweh himself: For I am a
father to Israel and Ephraim my first-born son,
To See Him
.
A man and his son went on a camping trip to the mountains. They hired an
experienced guide, who brought them into the heart of the forest, and the
beauty spots in the mountains that they themselves would never have found. The
old guide was constantly pointing out beauty and wonders that the passer-by
would never notice. The young lad was fascinated by the ability of the guide to
see so much in all his surroundings. One day the lad was so impressed that he
exclaimed Ill bet you can even see God out here. The old guide smiled and
replied Son, as life goes on its getting more and more difficult for me to
see anything but God out here. Lord that I might see
..
Jack McArdle in And thats the Gospel truth
In the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews we are reminded that the
high priest of the Old Testament understood sinners, because he was a sinner
himself. Jesus understands us better than any other because he is Love. The
high priest was called to service because he was a descendant of Aaron. Jesus
was called by God because he was his only son. Melchizedek, priest of God
prefigured Christ, called directly by the father to be priest, victim and
sacrifice.
Todays gospel is rich in symbolism and Mark uses the cure of the blind man
Bartimaeus, not merely to reveal the power of Jesus, but also to spell out what
true discipleship entails: the following of Jesus no matter what the cost.
Bartimaeus is sitting by the roadside begging for alms when he hears that Jesus
is passing by. Perhaps Bartimaeus had heard of Jesus and never dreamt that
Jesus would be so close by. He begins to shout repeatedly that beautiful and
simple prayer: Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me! The crowd scolds him and
advices him to be quiet but he shouts all the more: Son of David, Jesus, have
pity on me! In his repeated plea we see the persistence of faith and though he
was blind he could see in Jesus his only Saviour. Jesus notices his call and
asks Bartimaeus to be brought to him. Jesus always notices the prayer made in
faith and is ready to listen to our plea. On hearing of the invitation to come
to Jesus Bartimaeus leaps up, throws off his cloak
and goes to Jesus. Perhaps his cloak is the only valuable possession that he
had and he had used it to sit, sleep and beg. Now he does not need his cloak
for Jesus is all he needs. Jesus, though he sees that he is blind, asks him
what he needs. What do you want me to do for you? Bartimaeus with great faith
says: Rabunni, Master, let me see again! Jesus heals him and gives him his
sight. On receiving his sight Bartimaeus follows Jesus, going wherever he leads
him.
None So Blind As Those Who Will Not See
..
A young man blind from birth, fell in love with a girl. The more he got to
know her, the deeper his love for her became. He found her full of charm and
wit. A beautiful relationship developed between them. But then one day a friend
told him that the girl wasnt very good-looking. From that moment on he began
to lose interest in her. Too bad. He had been seeing her very well. It was
his friend who was blind. A blind person doesnt judge by appearances. We must
remember that there is sight and insight. Is it possible that a blind person
could see even more than a sighted person, in the sense of having more
insight and more understanding? St. Mark seems to think so. In fact this seems
to be the whole point of his story. Bartimaeus, who was physically blind, had
more faith in Jesus than many of his disciples who had perfect eyesight.
Whereas he has no doubt, they are full of doubt and hesitation.
Flor McCarthy in New Sunday and Holy day Liturgies
A miracle is a keen discernment of faith: not only does it save, but it also
involves a man in the dynamism of conversion. No sooner cured than Bartimaeus,
image of the faithful community and type of the perfect disciple, gets ready to
follow Jesus on the way. Symbol of those who live in the darkness and in the
shadow of death Bartimaeus thus becomes the model of those who cry out, who
pray to be delivered from their blindness, in order to be able to get up and
walk. There is a deliverer for them; I will make them see (Pascal). To see
love coming under the sign of the cross; To see the gentle hands of God
gathering up so many tears and incomprehensible deaths; To see the face of God
rising, along with justice, over the horizon of the poor; To see the
resurrection already at work in so many lives that have been renewed in the
Church and in the world. Will we dare, with the help of the Son of David, to
join the procession of believers, of pray-ers, of seers? Rabbuni,
let me see! Glenstal Bible Missal
Transforming Vision The musical Les Miserables is based on the epic novel
by Victor Hugo and dramatizes the adventures of Jean Valjean. After serving
nineteen years in prison for stealing some bread to help his sisters starving
child, Jean is paroled. Unable to find work, Valjean steals from a priest, who
in turn lies to save him from being sent back to prison. Given a second chance,
Jean Valjean undergoes a moral and social transformation: he takes a new name,
becomes wealthy, befriends a dying prostitute, raises her orphan and twice
risks everything hes gained to save others. -What the Lord did through the
priest for Valjean is similar to what he did for Bartimaeus. Both Valjean and
Bartimaeus were nobodies social outcasts. But when Jesus entered their lives,
they became somebodies his disciples. Many are the times Jesus stopped to
take notice of us and to transform us. When we were nobodies, he made us
somebodies. When we were spiritually sick, he made us
whole. When we were down he lifted us up. Can we in turn stop more often to
ask people: What can I do for you? How can I be of help?
Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds
May our eyes be opened so that we may see and follow Jesus today!
Fr. Jude Botelho
www.netforlife.net
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
---------------------------------
Find out what India is talking about on - Yahoo! Answers India
Send FREE SMS to your friend's mobile from Yahoo! Messenger Version 8. Get it
NOW
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL:
http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/attachments/20061024/61b4be1a/attachment.htm
_______________________________________________
Goanet mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
