Follow Him on the Way

Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

By Beth DeCristofaro

At God’s word were his works brought into being; they do his will as he has ordained for them. As the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the LORD fills all his works; Yet even God’s holy ones must fail in recounting the wonders of the LORD … yet none of them has he made in vain, For each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor?  (Sirach 42:15-17, 24-25)

Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” … Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately (Bartimaeus) received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10: 46-47, 52)

Piety

O perfect Word!
O Verbum bonum!

Whose Name is: “Savior,”
Whom we desire to hold;
Burn in our hearts, burn in our living marrow, own our being,
Hide us and heal us in the hug of Thy delight,
Whose admirable might
Sings in the furnace of the Triple Glory!

(“Word-A Responsory”, Thomas Merton, Collected Poems, 1977, p. 111)

Study

Joy, wonder, appreciation just spark through these readings.  Bartimaeus “sprang up” when he went to Jesus.  God who is from all eternity one and the same blessed and graced us with his presence as a man.  For the multitudes of us who did not meet Jesus on the roadside near Jericho we must see by becoming aware of him here and now.

We see God in the miracle of a person who survives tragic loss.  God envelops those who struggle with incarceration or the prison of addiction.  God attends those with infirmity or socio-economic bonds.  God guides refugees and people caught in conflicts.  At the same time God’s delight shines in the daily efforts of all workers.  God joins with families who hang tough through thick and thin.  God dances in the cloudscapes of the sky and cascading waterways.  We are invited to call out:  “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me” and follow Him.

Action

How do we show gratitude for seeing and hearing God within and without who strengthens our faith?  Bartimaeus followed Jesus.  Cursillo weekends are an opportunity to follow by being on team or by sponsoring a candidate.  In prayer and gratitude discern your involvement in Fall weekends at San Damiano.  Women’s Weekends will be September 17-20, and November 19-22, 2015.  The Men will meet Oct 15-18, 2015.