Rev. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.

Jan 30 2025

Saving Faith

A saving faith is one that knows it needs a savior. Bartimaeus must have been told that Jesus was going by, so he begins to cry out, a true cry from the heart: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” The crowd rebukes him at first. Why are they telling him to be silent? Do they want him to save face, preserve his dignity? Or does he embarrass them, annoy them?

Bartimaeus is not interested in saving face, his or theirs. He has a saving faith that keeps him shouting. Though blind, he sees what he has to do to get a response from Jesus. An unambiguous cry for mercy, along with a special name, “Jesus, son of David.” It carries his prayer right into Jesus’ heart. He stops and calls the blind man over. The crowd now encourages Bartimaeus: “Take courage. Get up, Jesus is calling you.” A saving faith trumps saving face.

Then, in a gesture that speaks Bartimaeus’ faith as much as his words, he throws aside his cloak. This cloak is his greatest possession; he sits on it, begging all day, and wraps himself in it to sleep at night. He now leaves it and his past behind, going to Jesus.

“What do you want me to do?” Jesus asks. “Master, I want to see,” he says, already acknowledging himself a disciple of the “Master.” Jesus speaks: “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Then, Mark’s perfect ending: “Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.”

Consider/Discuss

What does your faith allow you to see?
What do you still need to see in order to “follow Jesus on the way”?

Responding to the Word

Lord Jesus, you heard the cry of a blind man and answered his plea, giving him a new life with you. In our blindness, we sometimes fail to remember how near you always are. Remove any obstacles that prevent us from calling out, trusting in your mercy and love.

Jan 30 2025

To Lord or Not to Lord

One of the temptations in having younger siblings is the felt need to remind them of their place in the family “pecking order,” especially when it comes to certain privileges that belong to the eldest sibling(s). Every social, political, or family group has “elders,” either by age or rank, who claim certain privileges as their due. Another way to put this is “lording it over others.”

Jesus works to undermine this approach to community life. He has been teaching his disciples that he must suffer, die, and then be raised to eternal life. He has just finished telling this to them for the third time when James and John come up to claim a seat at his right and left when he comes into his kingdom. After all, they were among the first to be called! No wonder the others were about to throttle them—not because James and John should not have made such a claim, but because they beat the others to it. It’s hard to give up “lording” when the opportunity arrives.

The Letter to the Hebrews speaks of Jesus as the great high priest able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses, similarly tested, yet without sin. This Jesus calls us to service, warning us, as he did the disciples, against lording it over one another and making our authority felt. We too are to follow him in the way of service and self-giving, caring for our brothers and sisters, humbly and without regard for reward.

Consider/Discuss

Are there particular circumstances that tempt you to “lord it over” someone else? What do you do?
Do you believe that Jesus really was tested in every way and yet was without sin? Which part of this do you find hardest to believe?

Responding to the Word

Lord Jesus Christ, you teach us that we will find honor in serving each other, not in seeking positions of superiority or power over others. You came to give your life as a ransom for “the many”—meaning “for all.” Give us a share in this spirit of generous service.

Jan 30 2025

Seek Wisdom

The wisdom prayed for in the first reading is a gift from God. Perhaps the first question that confronts us today is whether we consider wisdom worth our energy and effort, or whether we are busy pursuing what are considered more “practical” objectives. Consider, however, that the wisdom of God has been described as knowledge of how to do things—in Solomon’s case, ruling wisely.

Scripture also connects the pursuit of wisdom with the pursuit of eternal life that the man is seeking in the Gospel. He has come to recognize that eternal life is the supreme value, and he wants to know what he must do to inherit it. Again, wisdom as doing. When Jesus points him toward keeping the commandments, he quickly responds that he’s been doing this “from my youth.”

He wins Jesus’ heart with this response, so Jesus invites him to join his disciples, to be part of a new family, leaving behind his property, possessions, and all that binds him to the past. All too much! He walks away sad. “Who can be saved?” asks Peter. “Impossible for humans, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Which brings us back to prayer. Ask for wisdom, the ability to do what is necessary, and more will be given than you can imagine.

God’s word is spoken of as living and effective, a two-edged sword that penetrates our heart, enables discernment, brings light, leads to right action. What does God’s word illuminate today?

Consider/Discuss

What do you seek? What do you ask for in prayer? Wisdom? Eternal life? Or . . . ?
Do you trust Jesus’ promise that one who chooses to be part of his family will receive a hundred times more even now?

Responding to the Word

God of wisdom and life, “teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Send us your Spirit of wisdom and understanding that we may know the difference between what the world holds up as riches and what is of true value in your sight.

Jan 30 2025

True Family Values

Jesus’ teaching on divorce can sound harsh to our ears and even cause pain to anyone who has suffered the trauma of a divorce. It is important to understand that the scribes are testing Jesus the rabbi/teacher and his understanding of the law of Moses on marriage and divorce. Maybe they simply wanted to know what Jesus thought, but it is more probable they wanted to get him in trouble either with the authorities (consider the preaching of John the Baptist on Herod’s marital situation) or with the people who revered Moses and the law that allowed for divorce.

Two rabbinic schools of thought had weighed in on this matter. Rabbi Shammai allowed divorce only for adultery; Rabbi Hillel allowed it for just about anything. In Jesus’ day a more liberal interpretation prevailed, and divorce was allowed for trivial reasons.

Jesus the teacher becomes Jesus the prophet here, going back to Genesis and proclaiming the intent of the Creator: that a man leave his mother and father’s home and cling to his wife, the two becoming one. Here the woman was equal to the man, not subordinate, made “from (a rib) nearest his heart to be alongside him, equal to him, loved by him, and from beneath his arm to be protected by him.”

The Church’s teaching flows from that of Jesus. God’s plan is that marriage be graced and life-giving, a community of love and life. Children, the fruit of marriage, are to be cherished, blessed, and protected, never neglected or abused in any way.

Consider/Discuss

How do the teachings of Jesus and Genesis relate to the contemporary experience of marriage?
Why does the kingdom of God belong to children and what does it mean to accept this kingdom like a child?

Responding to the Word

Loving God, you created man and woman in your image, and have called many to the vocation of marriage as a witness to and participation in the love that binds you, Father, with the Son and Holy Spirit. Hear our prayer for all married couples; make their love faithful, fruitful, and forever.

Jan 30 2025

Extending Boundaries

Close ties can enrich life, whether due to blood, loyalty, or faith in God. However, any close tie can become overly exclusive. “She won’t fit into our family.” “He’s not for our group.” This also happens in God’s family. People want to draw lines, decide who is “in,” who is “out.” God doesn’t work that way.

Today we have Joshua upset that the spirit of Moses has been given to two men who weren’t at the appointed place at the appointed time. Moses, who knows what it means to be both “in” and “out,” has the wisdom to know that God will give the spirit to whomever God wishes. Moses was about extending boundaries.

The apostle John notices a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name. “We tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” “Us?” Jesus asks. “Us? Who decides who drives out demons? No one who performs a deed in my name can speak ill of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.” Jesus was about extending boundaries.

Human boundaries don’t fence in the Holy Spirit. God’s open arms extend beyond our imaginations. Isaiah sings, “All the tribes shall go up to worship the Lord. All nations shall stream to God’s holy mountain.”

So stretch out your hands in generosity. Give drinks of water to whoever thirsts. Protect the little ones. The only restrictions concern whatever causes you to sin and lose the kingdom. Otherwise, expect God to work in unexpected places, in unexpected people, in unexpected ways.

Consider/Discuss

Have you ever been surprised by God working in someone, some place, in an unexpected way?
Jesus’ words about giving scandal are to be taken very seriously. Do they speak to your life in any way?

Responding to the Word

Lord, help us recognize the working of your Spirit in our world. May we see your hand in anything done to liberate others from oppression and to bring peace and reconciliation. Never let us bring any of your little ones to harm. And give true contrition to those who have caused others harm.