Blind Bartimaeus in All of Us. Well, me anyway.

Then they came to Jericho And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

This Gospel passage from Sunday's Mass is interesting for two things:

1. The blind guy's name Bar -Timaeus is Jewish/Greek hybrid - and the author tosses in "the son of Timaeus" for all of us helots.

2. The blind guy calls out "Jesus, Son of David" which was a real messianic apellation. Unlike King David - the Son of David is a healer and savior.

King David was a thug in many ways. As King he abused his authority - or maybe that is actually what kings are supposed to do - by tossing Uriah into the front ranks and ensure that poor slob gets killed. Old Dave gets Uriah's Missus. Bathsheba.

Jesus appears - not to the bling guy of course -in Jerico and the bling Bartimaeus begs Jesus for sight.

He is given sight.

Father Gallagher, at Sacred Heart Church 8:30 A.M. yesterday, explained how the story of Bartimaeus was used in the early Christiam Church to enhance the beauty of Baptism - we are blind like Bartimaeus until the sight of saving Grace restores us to true vision.

Then we get so damn busy and making excuses and walking right past people who really suffer. We have vision, but are blind as bats.

Hell, I'm nearly as blind as Old Barty.


Son David, let me see.

"Eph'phatha," - Straighten Up and Fly Right!

Today's Gospel reminded me of the Nat King Cole Trio song:

A buzzard took monkey for a ride in the air
The monkey thought that everything was on the square
The buzzard tried to throw the monkey off his back
But the monkey grabbed his neck and said-- Now listen, Jack

Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top.
Ain't no use in divin'
What's the use in jivin'
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top.

The buzzard told the monkey "You're chokin' me
Release your hold and I'll set you free
The monkey looked the buzzard right dead in the eye and said
Your story's so touching but it sounds just like a lie

Straighten up and fly right
Straighten up and stay right
Straighten up and fly right
Cool down, papa, don't you blow your top.

Here was the unvarnished gospel Mark 7: 31 - 37 at 8:30 Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Chicago:

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis.
And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand upon him.

And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue;
and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened."

And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.

And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak."

I have more wax in my soul than I do in my ears. I lose patience with my wonderful children. I want my vanities perfumed into virtues. I want my bank balance to mirror those vanities and continue to be astounded that, when I open the mail, there are no Honorary Degrees. or Fat Checks from Patrons.

In short, I need to hear "Eph'phatha," which Mel Gibson translates from the Aramaic of Jesus to 'Straighten Up and Fly Right!'

Cool down Papa don't you blow your top!

Happy Labor Day, Folks!

Click my post title for the translation.