WEBVTT

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's a line in today's gospel that if you miss it, it's key to the whole story today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is calling him, and the gospel says he threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why does Saint Mark include that detail?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because for a blind beggar, the cloak was everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was his security, it was his blanket, it was his protection.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Probably the place where people threw coins while he begged.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was the one thing he owned.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the moment Jesus calls him, Bartimaeus throws it aside.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's conversion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Conversion is not just believing Jesus existed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The crowds believe Jesus existed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Conversion is when a person is finally willing to let go of the one thing that they've been clinging on to instead of God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And every one of us has a cloak.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For some people it's pride.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For some people it's always needing to have control.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For some people it's money and things.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For others it's resentment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And for some it's a secret sin or an addiction.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And for some it's the image that they want the world to see.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We all have something we wrap around ourselves to feel secure apart from God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And many people many people want healing without surrender.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They want Jesus close enough to comfort them, but not close enough to change them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Bartimaeus is different.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's desperate enough to cry out, humble enough to admit his blindness, persistent enough to ignore the crowd, and courageous enough to leave the cloak behind.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Notice the crowd in today's gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>At first they tell him to be quiet.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Hey, stop bothering Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Be silent.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And honestly, that's what the world still does today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The moment somebody starts to take their faith seriously, people get uncomfortable with that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Hey, hey, hey, don't take religion so seriously.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't bring that Jesus stuff here.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You've changed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You're becoming too extreme.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Barthemaus teaches us something important.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Do not let the crowd determine the volume of your faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The closer Jesus gets, the louder Barthemaus cries.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then comes one of the most beautiful lines in the gospel.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus stopped.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Out of the entire crowd, Jesus stops for the one man everyone ignored.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the heart of Christianity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus notices the people the world overlooks.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some of you come to mass today carrying wounds nobody else sees.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Anxiety, grief, fear, loneliness, shame, exhaustion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe outwardly you look fine, but spiritually you feel like Bartimaeus sitting on the side of the road while life keeps moving past you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today's gospel reminds us Jesus still stops for people who cry out to him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not perfect people, not polished people, not people who have it all put together.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, people who know they need mercy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then Jesus asks Bartimaeus a strange question.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What do you want me to do for you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, it seems obvious a man is blind.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But Jesus wants Bartimaeus to say it out loud.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Master, I want to see.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's an incredible prayer.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because once Christ opens your eyes, you cannot keep living the same way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And notice how the gospel ends.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Bartimaeus does not just receive a miracle.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He goes back and go back to his own life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He no no, he becomes a disciple.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He puts away that old life.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the difference between using God and following God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some people only want Jesus when they need something.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But a disciple follows him wherever he leads, even when the road becomes difficult, even when the cross appears.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So maybe the question today is simple.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What is your cloak?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What are you clinging to instead of God?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where are you spiritually blind?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And do you really want Jesus to change you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because Christ is still passing by, he's still stopping, he's still calling.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe the most beautiful line of the gospel is when they finally say to Bartimaeus, hey, hey, take courage, get up, Jesus is calling you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the gospel in one sentence.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I'll say it to you today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Take courage.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Get up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is calling you.