In the Gospel today, the pitiful yet noble Bartimaeus meets Christ. Bartimaeus is so helpless, trusting and desperate, unashamed of his poverty; a man in touch with his real needs. Unlike most of us, he knows he is not self-sufficient; he knows his life is in need of a saving presence.
Read MoreMany theologians have noted that Christ is a kind of new Moses, who leads His disciples on a liberating journey, not from the political oppression of Pharaoh, but from the prison of our own ego. Christ came not to advance His own agenda, but the Father’s. He comes not to save Himself, but others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus patiently teaches His disciples that His Kingdom is characterized by the greatness of service.
Read MoreFollowing Christ, not moral law, is what makes us Christian. Morality is a consequence of our relationship with Christ. It is secondary, a response to God who loves us first. Morality often becomes coherent only over time, and within the context of following Our Lord.
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