30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B
FIRST-BORN… FAVORED?
Ephraim in the Old Testament
could really boast of his great fortune. As second son of Joseph (slave boy,
later prisoner who became Egypt’s governor), he was exceedingly surprised that his
dying grandfather Jacob, bestowed on him, not to his older brother Manasseh,
the special paternal blessing. Jacob’s action was in turn, a déjà vu of his own
experience. His own father Isaac too, imparted his benediction on him, the
frail younger son, and not on his older, brutish brother Esau.
Why was Ephraim so preferred? He was
described as a modest and not a selfish man. Deeper than this, the choice of
Ephraim by Jacob, as that of Jacob by Isaac, forms part of the mysterious action
of God. The Lord works unexpectedly, shining the spotlight on the dark horse,
the underdog, and the little guy. In so doing, God confounds the reasoning of
the intelligent but successfully manifests the movements of his heart. This is
just how the Lord acts on behalf of those who are nobodies in the world.
The gospel today illustrates this
further. Bartimaeus was the ultimate outcast. As blind, he lived in isolation. As
beggar, he enjoyed no comfort. Even his attempt to speak was blocked by
spectators. But Bartimaeus instinctively knew God’s faithful promises, believed
his generous actions, and trusted his merciful heart. He took the risk to get
the attention of Jesus, and that was all that the Lord was waiting to hear that
day! The rest, they say, is history.
In today’s world, the actions of
human beings push us to near despair. The poor become poorer, the oppressed
suffer more indignities, the least are also the ignored and forgotten. The government
that promises equality gives preference to those who are already rich and
powerful. The church that preaches mercy alienates and shuts people up so
effectively. The family that must show compassion generates instead favoritism
and division. Where else do we go to have hope?
We go to the God who makes the
second-born a first born, who transforms the despised into a favored one, who
makes the blind beggar feel welcome, accepted and loved – even before he receives
his physical miracle! We must believe it when the Word of God says that God overturns
human and social orders. We must not be afraid to speak to him out of our
darkness, our feebleness and our helplessness. We must be inspired by the good
fortune of Ephraim and the miracle of Bartimaeus!
In your situation today, do you
feel the need to shout out loud: “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me!”? In prayer, do
just that. He will stop to listen. You will receive your favor.
