Mark Jacks

Fear touches every part of our lives. We fear sickness, loneliness, financial loss, and ultimately, death. These fears can paralyze us, keeping us from moving forward. But in today’s Gospel, the story of Bartimaeus offers a profound reflection on how we can find hope through faith in Jesus.

Bartimaeus, whose name means “son of fear,” lived his life in darkness, unable to work or support himself, left to beg on the streets. Fear blinds us in a similar way, preventing us from seeing solutions, hope, or a way forward. Yet, when Bartimaeus hears Jesus is near, he doesn’t hold back. He cries out in humility, asking for mercy: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”

His cry is a model for our own prayer—persistent, humble, and trusting. Even when others try to silence him, Bartimaeus continues to call out, trusting that Jesus will respond. And Jesus does stop, calling Bartimaeus to come to Him. In an act of faith, Bartimaeus throws aside his cloak, a symbol of his old life, and asks for healing.

In reflecting on the role of the priesthood, we are reminded of the profound insights from the Letter to the Hebrews. In this passage, we are told that Jesus is our great High Priest, who has “passed through the heavens” and can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tested in every way, yet without sin. This speaks to the depth of Christ’s love and solidarity with us. He understands our struggles, and as our High Priest, He intercedes for us continually before the Father.

In the Old Testament, the high priests offered sacrifices on behalf of the people to atone for their sins, but these sacrifices were temporary.

In today’s world, it’s easy to view wealth and material success as signs of blessing. We look at the affluent—celebrities, business moguls, or even the wealthy families in our own neighborhoods—and think that their lives must be filled with happiness and security. But Jesus offers a different perspective in the Gospel. The rich young man who approaches Jesus is genuinely seeking eternal life, but when Jesus invites him to give up his possessions and follow Him, the man leaves in sorrow. His wealth, instead of bringing him closer to God, becomes a barrier to the deeper relationship he desires. This story invites us to reflect on our own attachments.

Respect Life Sunday, observed during October’s Respect Life Month, prompts us to reflect on the Catholic Church’s teachings amidst a culturally contentious landscape. As society often questions or rejects Catholic values on issues such as marriage, divorce, and abortion, it’s crucial to understand that our faith offers more than just arguments—it presents a profound and beautiful vision of truth and goodness.

This vision is grounded in the Genesis account, where God creates a partner for Adam, illustrating that marriage is not merely a social contract but a divine institution intended for unity and lifelong commitment. The biblical story shows that man and woman are made for each other, embodying a sacred partnership where two become one flesh. This union reflects the Church’s teaching that marriage is meant to be permanent, a principle upheld by Jesus in the Gospel, who emphasizes that marriage is a covenant established by God and should not be separated by human intervention.

In examining our spiritual lives and the world around us, it’s crucial to recognize how gradually we can be led away from righteousness. Our culture is constantly shifting, often in ways that erode our moral and spiritual standards. This subtle decline can be likened to the fable of the boiling frog—a story that illustrates how danger can go unnoticed when it escalates slowly. Just as a frog in lukewarm water fails to sense the increasing heat until it’s too late, we may not perceive the gradual onset of moral and spiritual decay in our own lives. This fable serves as a powerful metaphor for how we can become desensitized to sin and complacent in the face of growing immorality.

Our culture is saturated with messages that trivialize sin and degrade human dignity—through provocative advertisements, suggestive media, and the normalization of harmful behaviors.

In our modern world, debates over who is the greatest—whether it’s Michael Jordan versus LeBron James or Messi versus Ronaldo—highlight our deep-seated obsession with identifying “the best” in every field. This fixation often extends into our personal lives, affecting how we view ourselves and others. We find ourselves preoccupied with questions of who excels at work, who is the most attractive, or who deserves the most recognition.

However, Jesus offers a radical shift in perspective in the Gospel passage from Mark 9:33-37. When His disciples argued about who among them was the greatest, Jesus addressed their concerns by redefining what it means to be “great.” He said, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Even when Christians, including Catholics, think about death, they usually wind up actually believing different things. Many assume that immediate entry into heaven is the default outcome, relying on popular perceptions or selective interpretations of Scripture. Yet, Jesus offers a more nuanced perspective: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” This teaching underscores a crucial point: salvation is not merely a matter of avoiding the worst moral pitfalls but involves a profound transformation of life aligned with Christ’s teachings.

To understand this better, imagine standing before God at the end of your life and asking to enter heaven. If God were to question why you should be admitted, citing that you’re “not as bad” as notorious historical figures, such as Adolph Hitler, or professing a general love of humanity without a clear life of doing good to and for others, might not be convincing. Genuine love for God must be reflected in daily actions and choices, not just verbal affirmations.

What is our speech impediment? How are we deaf? In Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus miraculously cures a deaf man with a speech impediment. While it was a physical cure, it points to something deeper in each one of us: that we often fail to hear God speaking to us,  and we often fail to share his Word with our family, friends, and coworkers.

When an adult is going to be baptized into the Church, there are options to sign that person’s senses with the cross. This would occur during the Rite of Acceptance in the Order of Catechumens. The cross is traced on the person’s ears, eyes, lips, hands, forehead, heart, shoulders and feet. The idea is this: sin has closed us off, even in our senses, to God. Christ renews and recreates our sense to hear, sense, and speak of our Heavenly Father.

In today’s Gospel reading from John 6:60-69, we encounter a moment of profound challenge and commitment. Jesus speaks of the difficulty of His teachings, and many of His followers struggle to accept them. In response, Peter declares, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” This passage highlights the demanding nature of true discipleship and the necessity of a disciplined faith.

Just as athletes achieve greatness through rigorous training and unwavering dedication, our spiritual journey requires similar discipline. It is not enough to merely show up at Mass or perform daily prayers; true discipleship calls for a deep, transformative commitment to our relationship with Jesus.

Jesus’ teaching about the narrow gate reminds us that entering heaven is not automatic but demands effort and perseverance.