Ordinary Time 30 - October 28, 2018

Homily for Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

October 28, 2018

Get Your Attention

            It’s amazing how sometimes we are blessed with an insight into the Heart of God. I had such an experience this past summer. I was blessed to join a very wonderful family on a vacation to Scotland. This family – two parents and six kids – were absolutely delightful.

            I have always been fascinated by family dynamics, and this family’s inner dynamics were very interesting. The oldest three kids are in college or just out of college, preparing for their successful careers and starting their lives. The fourth boy was in high school and desperately wanted to be cool like his older siblings, so he hung out with them the whole time. The youngest kid had Down’s Syndrome and was doted on by everyone.

            And then there was Sam. At eleven years old, Sam is the fifth of six kids, and no one really paid much attention to him. He’s quiet, and the age gap made it so that he didn’t really fit in with the older kids.

            One day after dinner, we were all sitting contentedly around the dinner table when Sam said to me, “Hey Fr. Joseph, let’s go outside, I want to show you something.” So we went outside, and I asked him, “What is it you want to show me?”

            There was a long pause, as he started looking around the yard, and I realized he really didn’t have anything to show me. Finally, he said, “Uh…let’s go…look in that shed over there!”

            So we went to the shed…and it was pretty empty and ordinary. Nothing in there worth looking at.

            So Sam said, “Um…well…let’s go see what’s over that fence!”

            We went over to the fence and looked over…it was an empty lot full of weeds.

            “Oh…uh…let’s go…look into the cellar!” So we went to go look into the cellar, which was quite empty.

            By this time, I was getting a little tired of this strange game, so I suggested that we just go back inside and eat dessert, which Sam agreed to reluctantly.

            Later on that night, I was praying, and that incident with Sam came to mind. Why was it that he wanted to show me all these random and uninteresting things? Suddenly it dawned on me – it had nothing to do with the shed, the fence, or the cellar. He just wanted to have someone’s undivided attention for a little while…and then I realized just how much God wants to have our undivided attention, and how often we forget about Him and pay no attention to Him! I saw in Sam the heart of God, Who will do anything to get our attention.

            Bartimaeus certainly wanted attention in today’s Gospel. Here he is, making a ruckus and drawing everyone’s attention to him. Even when told to be silent, he carries on, seeking the attention of Jesus of Nazareth. Imagine how many people would love to have Jesus pay attention to them! And Jesus, in His infinite compassion, stops and shows the blind man kindness.

            But I can’t help wonder if it wasn’t the blind man seeking Jesus’ attention, but Jesus seeking Bartimaeus. He heals his sight, yes. But Jesus gives him a deeper sight, because Bartimaeus realizes that the Man who healed Him is also the Savior. Instead of running home to tell his family, or going on a sight-seeing tour, Bartimaeus immediately follows Jesus, becoming a disciple. It had been Jesus searching for Bartimaeus’ soul all along.

            And yet…in our modern, busy, noisy culture, how often do we forget about the Lord Jesus! How often do we not give Him any attention! He tries to get our attention with gifts throughout the day – a sunset, coffee with a friend, a quiet moment of prayer or reading, a smile. And how little do we think of Him Who has given these good gifts!

            God even uses sufferings of daily life to get us to pay attention to Him. After all, do you think Bartimaeus would have ever met Jesus if he had not suffered from blindness? If Bartimaeus was born with eyesight, maybe he would have been out working in the fields or laboring in a shop when Jesus was passing by. Maybe he would have heard the Lord, but perhaps he would have been too satisfied with how his life was going to pay any attention. God used even this man’s blindness as a way to get his attention – and the Lord made him a disciple. So even in our difficult moments, God is trying to get us to turn to Him for strength, shelter, comfort.

            There is an incident in the life of St. Francis of Assisi that has always moved me. One day, the great saint went missing. His religious brothers looked everywhere for him, but could not find him in the church, the monastery, or the town. Finally, after a couple of days, his brothers stumbled upon him in the wilderness, where he was weeping. They asked him, “Francis, what’s wrong?” He replied, “Love is not loved! Love is not loved!”

            Like young Sam, God desires our attention. He has done everything to win over our hearts. Yet many people have a great apathy towards God – “Oh, I will think of Him once on Sundays, and that will be enough.” But He desires to be loved! His Heart, so full of goodness and blessings, thirsts for your love, your attention! Let us not keep Him waiting any longer!