Sunset

Ever since Zoom Masses ended at our local church, we’ve enjoyed online services in other places— some familiar, some new— in the U.S. and Vancouver, too.  And some we visit for noontime inspiration because we just can’t get enough.

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Today’s homily, recorded and transcribed, was delivered by Deacon A. David Warriner, Jr. at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.

I recall to this day an occurrence that happened in the, I guess the early- to mid-seventies.  I was making a trip from Shreveport, LA to Jackson, MS; and it was evening time.  It was sunset.  And, the sun sets in the west; so I’m driving east.  Out of my rear-view mirror and my side mirrors I see this gorgeous-gorgeous glow.  Can’t describe it.  Just this gorgeous glow.

I drove on and, as I drove, I saw people sitting up on the sides of the interstate.  It was a little bit hilly there— not like New Orleans— but they had moved up the hills and they were just sitting there and looking.  So, I pulled over and got out and looked.

That sunset was the most gorgeous sunset that I have ever seen in my life.  There were hues of gold and yellow and just brilliant light everywhere you could see.  Everything took on that bright-bright glow.  It was definitely something that has left an impression on me.

God’s glory is seen in his creation.  That’s a good example.  As the rising sun is clear to all, yet even God’s holy ones must fail in recounting the wonders of the Lord.  We don’t fully understand our God.  These words come from the book of Sirach.

Sirach is characterized by scripture scholars as wisdom literature.  For us to understand that wisdom literature— what it is— it’s to think with the mind of God and to see with the eye of God.  So, Sirach in that book goes through this great effort to try to explain God; and, even he admits that he is failing in his attempt to do that.  So, what is the passage telling us?  What is Jesus’s Sirach trying to tell us as he recorded these inspiring words?

First of all, God is all-powerful.  Secondly, God is majestic.  And, third, God and his creation are filled with his splendor.  God’s glory fills every bit of the works of his creation.

Bartimaeus said to Jesus, “Master, I want to see.”

Now, as the gospel passage tells us, Bartimaeus was a blind beggar on the roadside; and Jesus and his disciples were making their way down that road.  When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming, something sparked that blind beggar to cry out.  He called for the help of Jesus.  There was something special about Jesus, and he recognized that.

In that short little passage, we see this encounter come to its fulfillment.  Jesus calls him over and says, “What would you have me do for you?”

Those beautiful words.  “Master, I want to see.  Master, I want to see.”

Now, let’s be real about this.  All of us— each and every one of us, no matter where we are or where we come from— are blind in some way.  Each one of us needs in some way to be able to see.  So, what is it that we need to see?  Maybe it is asking for strength in times of trial.  Maybe it is asking for faith in times of unbelief.  Maybe it is an asking for what will be coming to us— that hope that our faith tells us to be so true to.  Maybe it’s a healing, a job, a place to live, help for a family member, relief from the stress of life, food to eat, clothes to wear.  All of us, in some way, need to see.  So, what do we do about this?  And what lessons can we learn from what holy Mother Church has given us in scripture today?

First of all, faith.  Turn to God; turn to God with our needs.  Ask for what we need.  Whatever it is, there’s nothing too small, nothing too large, for Jesus.  And, if it is the impossible that we seek, do as Bartimaeus did: Ask for a miracle!  God is full of miracles.  And, if we take the time to look around, we see those every day.  This occurs in our interchanges with the Lord.  We more commonly call that prayer.

God listens!  We know that God listens.  God grants what we really need.  It may not be exactly what we ask for, but God certainly knows better than us what it is that we need.

So, Sirach tells us that God is all-powerful, that God is majestic, and that God is filled with splendor.  And the Lord’s glory fills all of his work.

I saw the Lord’s glory in that sunset driving to Jackson, MS that day.  It left me with a lasting impression: If we are the pinnacle of God’s creation, which sacred scripture tells us over and over and over, should he not listen?  Should God not be attentive to what we need?  After all, God knows better than we do.

Faith saved Bartimaeus.  Is our faith enough to save us?

Links of interest…  Archdiocese of New Orleans…  Mass (world-wide listings)…  St. Louis Cathedral: daily saints / history / Mass / photos / tours / website...  What can we learn from blind Bartimaeus…

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