Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Psalm 125(126); Hebrews 5: 1-6; Mark 10: 46-52
Jeremiah has promised that Israel will return from their exile in Babylon. This new exodus will be on a smooth path with ample water, not like the first wanderings in the desert. God has redeemed his people, and will make a new unbreakable covenant with Israel, writing his law on people’s hearts, instead of on breakable stone. Jesus made this new covenant at the Last Supper.
The psalm exults in the imagined joy of this restoration, so intense as to seem like dream.
The extended extract from Hebrews read over the last 2 weeks, concludes by showing how Christ’s humanity enables him to understand our weaknesses. As the high priest forever, appointed by God at his baptism, Christ is therefore supremely fitted to mediate between us and God. But Hebrews goes on to say that Christ had to learn the depths of the human condition through his suffering.
Today we hear the last of Jesus’ teachings during his journey up to Jerusalem. Though blind, Bartimeus calls Jesus “Son of David”. He can see who Jesus is more clearly than the disciples following Jesus. He then calls Jesus “Master”, the only person in the first three gospels to do so before the resurrection. Able to see, Bartimeus now follows as a disciple.
Psalm Response: What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.
(Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Psalm 125(126); Hebrews 5: 1-6; Mark 10: 46-52)