Thursday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time (Year II)
1 Peter 2:2-5,9-12 | Psalm 99:2-5 | Mark 10:46-52
When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me’. And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me’. (Mark 10:47-48)
We call on the Lord when we are troubled. As the depth of our plight increases, our voices, like Bartimaeus’, grow all the louder.
But when everything’s hunky-dory, we quietly go about our own business, and the Lord is an afterthought at best.
And when the Lord comes to our attention in the form of people needing help, or even charity fundraisers, they might as well have “detour” signs hanging from their necks.
Not exactly exemplary conduct for “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
Perhaps we should spend more time asking the Lord what He would like us to do, take the time to listen to His quiet voice in the stillness of our hearts…and take the appropriate actions. Even if St. Peter deems us “visitors and pilgrims”, living in this world but not of it, we “have been given mercy” and should therefore show compassion towards those who are “outside the mercy”. (1 Peter 2:10)
Can I have an “Amen”, brothers and sisters? ?