Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012.

First Reading: Job 42:1-6, 10-17
God responded to Job’s demands for a hearing, speaking from a whirlwind to remind Job of the magnificence of God’s creation, next to which which Job is tiny and insignificant. Job quietly, faithfully accepts this. Then comes good news: God restores Job’s fortunes, double what they had been before. Job lives out a long life with riches, a big family and the respect of his friends. Job’s story has a happy ending, but it’s worth remembering that even in the sad event that things don’t get better, God is God and loves us still.

Psalm 34:1-8
Today’s psalm, described as “Praise for Deliverance from Trouble,” fits in nicely with the story of Job. Having begun with a song of praise to exalt God’s name, the psalmist now prays for deliverance from his terror. God indeed saves him from all his troubles, and the psalmist responds with joy: “Taste and see that God is good is good; happy are they who trust in the Most High!”

Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28
Jesus, as God, makes a far greater high priest than the former high priests of the Temple, as the author of Hebrews points out repeatedly in these verses. The old high priests were mortal. Jesus lives forever, and intercedes for us to save us. Mortal high priests are sinful humans who must sacrifice repeatedly in their weakness. Jesus is without sin, and his sacrifice on the cross stands for us forever.

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52
Being blind in Jesus’ time left a person nothing to do but beg. People had only pity at best for Bartimaeus sitting by the Jericho road. Perhaps they might throw him a small coin when he begged for alms. When he heard Jesus passing by, Bartimaeus yelled as loud as he could yell, defying bystanders’ attempts to shush him. Jesus listened, Jesus healed him, and Bartimaeus, seeing now, chose to follow Jesus. How might we answer when Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”