U Turn5/30/2024 Thursday of the 8th Week in OT
This morning when I read the reflection I had written for this day last year, I was surprised to see that an experience I had yesterday afternoon was so similar to the one I describe below. There was a moment when it felt like my spirit was taking a “you-turn” and I was feeling great consolation. It also opened up a well of inspiration that has been very dry. I’m sure I’ll share with you where that leads. Here’s what I wrote last year. My prayer took a turn for the better this morning. I’ve been experiencing a dry spell for a long time (except for the tears that I shed with some regularity.) When I read today’s Gospel of Jesus giving sight to Bartimaeus, my first instinct was to turn to one of the many reflections/homilies I’ve given on this text. There was one homily that I gave at Eastern Point that came to mind. I had done a search for various translations of this text in different versions of the Bible. Some were quite amusing like “Get up, old chap, he’s calling you!” or “This is your lucky day!” But, I remember very well that I was most engaged by the words, “feeling his way to Jesus.” But my prayer went in a different direction. You could say it took a “you turn.” After Bartimaeus (aka me) responded to the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus continued the dialogue. He said, “You say that you want to see.” What is it that you want to see? My immediate response was “I want to see you.” And then, I continued. “I want to see you as the one who is the center of my life. I want to see you as GMH saw you “playing in 10,000 places.” I want to see you reflected in the faces of others. I want to see you looking at me with all my questions, doubts, fears, and failures and see in your eyes compassion, love and understanding.” And I think I may have, or at least I’m beginning to think so. My invitation to you today is to answer Jesus’ question, “And what do you want to see?” I chose the photo of the lighthouse in Nantucket for two reasons. The obvious one is that the Bartimaeus asks Jesus to let him see. The beam that emanates from a lighthouse enables sailors to find a safe harbor. Isn't that what Jesus desires to do for us? And, coincidentally, I took that photo on May 30, 2019, five years ago today. (I'm also including a fun photo of my friend JA next to a "White Elephant" also on Nantucket.)
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