Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

I took this photo of Mick Jagger with a zoom lens from the nosebleed seats!

This past summer I had the chance to see the Rolling Stones live in concert in Los Angeles. Now, I’ve been a fan of their music for years, so when I got the chance to see them in person, I jumped at it. 

But here’s the thing—I had nosebleed seats. From where I was sitting, Mick Jagger was just a small speck on the stage, and even though I was in the same venue as one of the most famous rockstars in the world, there was no connection. 

No matter how much I wanted to be closer, I was too far away. There were thousands of people between me and Mick Jagger, and despite the excitement of being there, I left the concert feeling a little distant and disconnected. 

I enjoyed the music, but there was no personal interaction—no connection.

I share this because it made me think about how often we might feel that way with God. Like we’re in the crowd, watching from the sidelines, wanting to be closer, but feeling distant. 

Today’s Gospel is a powerful reminder that God is not like a distant celebrity who we can never reach. He’s not inaccessible or too busy for us. 

In fact, God is exactly the opposite—He’s personal, close, and attentive to our every need.

In today’s Gospel, we meet Bartimaeus, a blind man sitting by the roadside as Jesus passes by with His disciples and a sizable crowd. 

Unlike the crowd who is just following Jesus, Bartimaeus cries out to Him with desperation and faith: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 

And what happens? The crowd tries to silence him, telling him to be quiet. But Bartimaeus doesn’t give up. He cries out even louder, determined to get Jesus’ attention.

Now, Bartimaeus could have easily been overlooked—just another beggar in a busy world. But Jesus stops. He stops everything and calls Bartimaeus to Himself. 

There’s no distance here, no separation. Jesus doesn’t just hear Bartimaeus; He sees him, calls him, and asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

And with great faith, Bartimaeus responds, “Master, I want to see.”

Bartimaeus is not a face lost in the crowd. He has a personal encounter with Jesus, and because of his faith, he receives his sight and follows Jesus on the way. 

This moment is a powerful reminder that Jesus isn’t far off—He’s right here with us. He sees us, He hears us, and He responds to us. 

We don’t have to remain in the nosebleed seats of our faith, distant from God. Like Bartimaeus, we can call out to Jesus, and He will respond to us personally.

What’s even more striking about this encounter is Bartimaeus' persistence. He doesn’t let the crowd or the noise drown out his cries for help. 

When others tried to silence him, he cried out all the more. Sometimes in life, we face obstacles—maybe it’s fear, doubt, or even the voices of others telling us to stay quiet, to not bother God with our problems. 

But Bartimaeus shows us that God wants us to cry out to Him. He wants us to be persistent in our faith, knowing that He is always listening and ready to answer.

Think about the moment when Jesus asks Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

This is the same question Jesus asks each one of us today. It’s personal. Jesus is not distant—He’s asking you, by name, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

It’s not a celebrity asking from far away. It’s your Savior, standing close to you, asking what you need.

So, what is your response? What do you need from Jesus today? Maybe it’s healing, like Bartimaeus. Maybe it’s clarity in a time of confusion. 

Maybe it’s the strength to endure a difficult situation. 

Whatever it is, Jesus is ready to meet you where you are. You don’t have to wait in line or fight your way to the front—He’s already here, asking what He can do for you.

And just like Bartimaeus, we are called to follow Jesus on the way. 

Once we experience His healing, His grace, and His love, our response should be to get up and follow Him, trusting that He will lead us where we need to go. 

Bartimaeus left behind his cloak—probably the only possession he had—because once he encountered Jesus, he needed nothing else. His faith saved him, and it set him on a new path.

As we reflect on this story, I invite you to move from the distant, nosebleed seats of faith and come closer to Jesus. 

He’s not far off. 

He’s calling you by name, ready to respond to your deepest needs. 

And when you answer, like Bartimaeus, you’ll find that Jesus is more than just someone to admire from afar. He’s the Savior who wants a personal, life-changing relationship with you.

So today, don’t hesitate to cry out to Him. Take courage. Get up. Jesus is calling you. 

How will you respond?