Sunday, March 10 – Fourth Sunday in Lent

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21: 25-28)

This passage from Luke tells us that there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars, yet verses in both Mark and Matthew have Jesus saying “there shall no sign be given.”

Old adages say, “Look before you leap,” and “He who hesitates is lost.” It seems we are forever beset with mixed messages.

While travelling on this our earthly pilgrimage, perhaps the bumper stickers and billboards we’ll read along “the way” will be saying: I am Bartimeus – blind from birth, blind to the plight of my neighbor and indeed blind to recognizing who my neighbor might be.

You are Bartimeus – blind from birth, blind to the plight of the world around you and blind to the many opportunities given to you to show compassion and love.

We are all Bartimeus - blind from birth, blind to the completely unmerited, yet never failing Love of God.

From childhood we all can recite the biblical passage from John 3:16, but perhaps the good news of John 3:17 does not as easily leap from our lips: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.”

Thank You, Jesus.

Joe Beckett