Scripture Reflections for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year B, Lectionary 149
God is bringing us back to God. Although we have fallen into sin and may seem stuck in place, Jesus with the Christian community, the followers, the disciples, the Church, comes to us personally and offers us the opportunity to return into communion with God. All we need is a persistent faith in Christ to trust his path as he leads us in life.
Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: Acknowledge • Ascend • Bartimaeus • Beg • Call • Change • Choice • Church • Community • Darkness • Disability • Disciple • Ego • Exile • Exodus • Faith • Focus • Follow • Freedom • Generosity • Grace • Healing • Hope • Humility • Impede • Inclusion • Joshua • Journey • Kingdom • Light • Listen • Marginalized • Miracle • Obstacle • Persistence • Power • Prayer • Priest • Purpose • Race • Relationship • Restoration • Restore • Sacrifice • Salvation • Seek • Self-discipline • Sight • Sin • Still • Teacher • Trust • Vocation • Way • Weakness • Zeal •
“And here Hebrews says something very fascinating, this is one of the only times in the New Testament where we see the language of vocation or a call being used with specific reference to the call to the priesthood”
“Jesus says 'I have something better than pity for you, I am able to actualize, to put your faith in action'”
“Bartimaeus was a blind man but his blindness brought him favor because he wouldn't let the blindness take over everything about him”
“the way we relate with people, first and foremost, that makes all the difference”
“let's follow Jesus's example by asking those around us 'what do you want me to do for you?' What response might we receive if we ask this question in earnest?”
“those who humbly seek Jesus regardless of their circumstances are often the ones who experience profound transformation. In their humility they share the most pure faith. They approach Jesus believing in the impossible, truly placing faith in his power.”
“Do we trust Jesus that much when we ask him to heal us, to save us, to redeem us, to restore us? Are we ready to throw away the things we depend on even before we see the miracle?”
“all life has value and we are called in this family to reflect the head of the family: Christ”
“Is your way his way?”
“God wants to give us a new kind of vision that we do not already have. If we had it we'd be in the kingdom.”
“Why would Jesus make us ask again and again? Why not give us the things that we need on the first request?...perhaps our asking again and again and again is us creating a space, creating a space that will be able to hold the very gift that we're asking for”
“The new Exodus, the new path, the new way that we're all called out of bondage and called to journey into is the way of discipleship, it's the way of following the Lord”
“Not only does Jesus hear me, he reminds me to take courage and calls me to take my place and be included among his followers”
“Sometimes we cling so tightly to what we think is true that when the truth comes, which we deeply desire, and knocks upon our door, we refuse to open”
“God promises to be with you and me always. When we get lost, when we get blinded, when we get hurt or whatever it is, God promises to lead us to brooks of water and to places of peace but we have to see, hear and follow”
“if you give Jesus a chance he will turn everything around for good for you”
“we're told that the blind and the lame just as they are will be included in the midst of the community's joyous return to the safety and agency of home. We, whether abled or disabled, are the spiritual siblings of those whom God brought back from exile.”
