Our Companions in the Journey

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1-2).

For me, this is the message of All Saints' Day. The saints are witnesses: they testify to the enduring and eternal value of following Jesus. They cheer for us as we run the race towards the true life. They encourage us when we are tempted to drop out of

the race, when we feel as if we are running alone, when we uselessly compare ourselves with other runners. With the saints, we fix our eyes on Christ who is at the head of the race, leading us as the pioneer, but also the goal of the race, as the perfecter of our faith.

The saints, then, not only pray for us, but also accompany us in our journey towards Christ. Thank God for the saints, thank God for our companions.

That I May See

Bartimaeus rightly calls Jesus "Rabboni", meaning "Teacher" because that was what Jesus had been doing just before they met. And this we have heard the previous Sundays. Jesus had been teaching his disciples fidelity (when he rejects divorce in favor of God's will for man and woman to be in an indissoluble marital bond), simplicity (when he told the rich young man to sell his belongings and follow him), humility (when he explained to his disciples, especially to James and John that greatness and primacy lies in being a servant and the least of all). But these are difficult teachings to understand. The disciples, and we, can not understand because we do not see the logic; we could not see how we can be secure without money; we could not see how we can be great by being the last.

The blindness of Bartimaeus is a metaphor for the blindness of the disciples to the teachings of Jesus. Perhaps our blindness, too.

"What is it that you want me to do for you?", Jesus asks. With Bartimaeus, we reply with all earnestness, "Rabboni, I want to see!"

What's it all about, Alfie?

One way of appreciating the Gospel message of this Sunday is to read it as a continuation of the "discipleship" theme that Mark develops in his gospel, a theme that started with the gospel of two Sundays ago, on Divorce and last Sunday, on the Rich Young Man. In fact, the Gospel for next Sunday, Blind Bartimeaus, should also be read in the context of this theme.

All these three Gospel episodes show the radical, therefore difficult, demands of discipleship, of following Christ. They also show us how different the way of Christ is from the ways of the world. While the world says, "when the relationship is getting sours, dispatch the woman (or man)," Christ says, "What God has put together, let no human being put assunder.' While the world says, "To have riches, thick wallets, several credit cards, multiple bank accounts is the most secure way to go," Christ says, "Go and sell your belongings and give the money to poor." And while the world says, "Make sure to get promotion as quickly as possible or do your best to keep the top position, no matter what," Jesus says, "the best place is the lowest; the biggest man is the smallest." A totally different standard, a totally odd worldview, a totally difficult way of proceeding.

Why follow Him? The first reading hints at a possible answer:

"Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days;

through his suffering, my servant shall justify many..."

What is your life about, Alfie? For you or for others. By your answer, you will know which way to go.

Little Things with Great Love

The appeal of the Little Flower, St Therese of the Child Jesus, lies precisely in her "littleness". During her day, she must have been an unknown cloistered nun. To her family, she was a child easily given to tantrums. Later on, however, as a nun, she fulfilled her duties with much dedication and love. Every little thing that she did, she performed with much love and with great trust that God pleased with what she was doing, and that He was accepting her offering of these daily tasks for the mission. Hence, hers was not just great love, but wide vision, piercing through the thick convent walls to see and be one with the missionaries in far flung countries.

St Therese is indeed a saint for us, small people, trying to do our daily, routinary tasks with great love and wide vision.

And I feel very blessed that on my first month here in London, I will have the chance of praying before the relics of St Therese which is being brought here for veneration is some selected churches.