Por Fr. Ed Liptak, SDB

The northern kingdom of Israel had been taken into Babylonian exile, and Jerusalem was in deadly danger. Jeremiah in our first reading on this 30th Ordinary Sunday B foretells relief. The prophet of gloom and doom was now preaching about Israel at the end of their Babylonian captivity. In doing so, Jeremiah strikes for us the theme of woe and darkness that gives way to joy and light. Captivity came because of infidelity to God. Their return would only be marked by further corruption of Samaritan paganism detested at the time of Jesus. Our Church invites us to take this as a metaphor of sin compounded by more sin. Should that be the case with us, then by all means, let us repent!

The letter to the Hebrews adds to that. It reminds us that sin offerings were offered to God by priests “taken from among men.” Such sacrifices are first for the priest himself. Not so with Jesus: He was begotten by God before the dawn of time. “Before the dawn, I begot you,” says the LORD. Jesus was God’s anointed. He was more than human. Christ was like that great High Priest Melchizedek, whose origin was mysterious. Out of the darkness of time came Jesus Christ, God and Man, and His power over human sinfulness was infinite. Hence, we pray, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy!” (Ps 126:3).

The Alleluia Verse from 2 Timothy helps us know why Mark’s Gospel passage occurs this week. From Paul, we must understand that “Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” Jesus is the powerful Lord. Alleluia!

Therefore, we ponder the Gospel. For us humans, what darkness can be deeper than total blindness? Jesus confronts that sort of night on His way to combat on Calvary Satan’s ‘hour of darkness.’ Our victorious Savior will destroy the darkness of sin and death. Now, a blind man cites the human origin of Jesus, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus, who from the darkness of sin bids us come forth, simply commands, and the night of sin and death signified by the man’s blandness is gone. Through Jesus, ‘Life’ and ‘Light’ are restored.

Darkness of sin and death, begone!

Amen.