Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. The incident in this story is the last time in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus performs a healing. It must be significant that the subject of the healing is named.
1st Reading (Track 1): Job 42:1-6, 10-17
The Book of Job ends
with a capitulation on Job’s part: he
admits that he has been talking without the deeper knowledge of God. He repents, which he had rested doing through
all the long speeches of his friend.
There is a disconnect here, because earlier God had rebuked his friends. Some scholars believe this last chapter is an
attempt by a later editor to “tidy things up,” or that the original story
included only chapters 1-2 and 42, since they seem to come out of a worldview
that is different from the chapters in-between.
42:1 Then Job answered the Lord: 2 “I
know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without
knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too
wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear,
and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the
ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore
I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
[10 And the Lord
restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had
before. 11 Then there came to him
all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate
bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all
the evil that the Lord had brought
upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. 12 The Lord
blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen
thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand
donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons
and three daughters. 14 He named
the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land there were no women so
beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along
with their brothers. 16 After this
Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s
children, four generations. 17 And
Job died, old and full of days.]
Psalm
34:1-8, [19-22] (Track 1)
Psalm 34 is an acrostic poem (in its entirety) in the
wisdom tradition. It begins with the
praise of God, rejoicing in God’s role of deliverer from fear and evil. The optional verses sing the praise of God
who can be trusted to deliver the righteous and punish the evil.
1 I will bless the Lord
at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
*
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
let us exalt his
Name together.
4 I sought the Lord
and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord
encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord
is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!
[19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
but the Lord
will deliver him out of them all.
20 He will keep safe all his bones; *
not one of them shall be broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, *
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The Lord ransoms the
life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.]
1st Reading (Track 2): Jeremiah 31:7-9
Our first reading is a
vision of the return from exile. It
comes from the brief section of Jeremiah called “the Book of
Consolations.” Unlike the rest of
Jeremiah, which is predominantly gloomy and judgmental, chapters 30-33 speak
words of hope to the people. The return
will be inclusive: those who live in struggle and those who live in joy; they
will make “a great company.”
31:7 Thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise
shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, “Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of
Israel.” 8 See, I am going to bring
them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the
earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor,
together; a great company, they shall return here. 9 With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I
will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight
path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and
Ephraim is my firstborn.
Psalm
126 (Track 2)
Psalm 126 is one of “Songs of Ascents,” pilgrim songs
for the journey to Jerusalem for the major festivals (Psalms 120-134 have this
title in the Hebrew text). Psalm 126 is
a prayer for deliverance for the nation.
It begins with a glad memory of Israel’s restoration from exile. The image of weeping at sowing time, and
joyfully bringing home the harvest seems to come from an ancient proverb: “You must not laugh when you sow, lest you
weep when you harvest.”
1 When the Lord restored
the fortunes of Zion, *
then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongues with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, *
“the Lord has done great things for them.”
4 The Lord has done
great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
*
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
2nd Reading:
Hebrews 7:23-28
In our second reading, the writer makes two arguments
as to why Jesus’ priesthood is superior to that of the priesthood of Aaron or
the Levites. First, Jesus’ priesthood is
permanent, eternal. Second, it is better given Jesus’ character and his status
as the Son of God. Jesus’ ministry of
constant intercession for us is a significant theme of Hebrews. The phrase “separated from sinners” is
problematic, given Jesus continued statements that he came to call not the
righteous but sinners (see, for example, Mark 2:17).
7:23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were
prevented by death from continuing in office; 24
but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues
forever. 25 Consequently he is able
for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives
to make intercession for them. 26 For
it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless,
undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no
need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for
those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those
who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than
the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
Gospel Reading: Mark 10:46-52
Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. The incident in this story is the last time
in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus performs a healing.
It must be significant that the subject of the healing is named. That has not been true in any of the prior
stories. Perhaps it is because
Bartimaeus becomes a disciple, following Jesus “on the way.” This is unique in Mark’s Gospel as well. There is a contrast with Jesus’ previous
healing of a blind man (8:22-26) where Jesus makes mud from spittle and rubs it
on the man’s eyes. Here there is a
simple word.
10:46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were
leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the
roadside. 47 When he heard that it
was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have
mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly
ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have
mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still
and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take
heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So
throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want
me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made
you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
The Scripture readings (except for the
psalm) are from the New Revised Standard
Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by
permission. All rights reserved. The Psalm translation is from The Book of Common Prayer. Commentaries are copyright © 2018
Epiphany ESources, 67 E. Main St., Hornell, NY 14843. www.EpiphanyEsources.com. All rights
reserved. Permission is given to copy for group study with this attribution. Bulletin inserts are available by subscription.
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