Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
We are so used to seeing the many things and people around us, that we often take them for granted. After all, how many of us wake up and greet the world with amazement, as though we are surprised by what we see? Perhaps, hopefully, there are some. But many of us no doubt groggily roll over only to slump out of bed to our familiar surroundings, so that we may begin our regular routine of coffee, breakfast, showering, teeth-brushing, dressing, etc.
Today’s first reading from Sirach speaks to all of us who might have this tendency to go about life, failing to realize the wonder of the world in which we live. From the sun to each creature, there is splendor, the splendor with which God invested everything he created, including, and especially, the human being, whose heart God penetrates and innermost being he understands (Sir 42:18). Wow, amazing! We are utterly amazing, our world is utterly amazing, and God too is utterly amazing.
Of course, we are not the first people who fail to appreciate the splendor of God and the splendor of God’s creation. In fact, that is probably why we find these words in Sirach – to serve as a reminder to all those who have forgotten the glory of God and God’s creation. In the time of Jesus, no doubt, there were many lacking in appreciation of this. Jesus, God incarnate, brought some new appreciation for the splendor of God’s work, and we witness this today in the gospel passage from Mark.
The splendor of God, the splendor of creation, the splendor of our very selves – are all meant to evoke a response of praise from us, a response of faith, a response of amazement. The blind man Bartimaeus’s response is certainly one of these. Upon being healed by Jesus, Bartimaeus follows Jesus on the way, despite Jesus telling him to go on his own way. Bartimaeus has discovered that his way IS Jesus’ way, that he is called to share in God’s splendor by becoming a disciple.
We too should respond to our amazing God and our amazing world by becoming a disciple of Christ. Whether we are morning people or not, our first thoughts in the morning should turn to God and be responses of amazement, of praise, of faith. This is why Catholicism has a long tradition of making a morning offering. Upon first awakening, we say a prayer to thank God for another day, for the gift of life, for the opportunity to serve, and we pray that all we do that day will be for God’s glory and at the service of God’s people and creation. With all that we have been given, this is but a small token of our appreciation, but it is an acceptable offering nonetheless! If you do not regularly pray a morning offering, you might want to consider making this the first step in your morning routine!
- Maria Morrow