Wednesday Morning Connection

For Sunday, October 25, 2009

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Hebrews 5:1-6
Mark 10:46-52

International terrorism has been around for a long time. Unfortunately, one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.

Last week saw the 150th anniversary of the raid on the arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia by John Brown and his band of abolitionists. Condemned as an anarchist, John Brown was hanged just six weeks later, convicted of treason against the state of Virginia and of murder.

This past weekend saw descendants of the raiders gathered at Harpers Ferry to honor those who were judged criminals 150 years ago (See: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113911976). Scholars today assess Brown’s actions (and the reaction to it) as contributing significantly to the beginning of the Civil War.

The last five decades has seen their own cavalcade of terrorist activities: airplanes high-jacked, the kidnappings at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the 1985 seizure of the Achille Lauro, the Tamil Tiger insurgency, suicide bombings in Spain, Britain, Israel, Indonesia, Pakistan, and a dozen other countries, and of course the events of 9/11 in the United States. All of these acts, and many more, were carried out in hopes of being noticed. Unfortunately, they are hopeless acts.

Now comes the news of double suicide bombings at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, Pakistan (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/20/world/AP-AS-Pakistan.html?scp=1&sq=pakistan%20university&st=cse). This school, popular with foreigners, has over 18,000 students. It is a seat of Islamic learning, and revered by many. The bombings are considered retaliation for the Pakistani government’s recent moves to end the inroads made by terrorists in the restive tribal regions near Afghanistan.

Incidents like this are sure to make the news. That’s why terrorists carry them out. They want to be heard!

Unfortunately, in today’s world, the terrorists’ bellows drown out wails of another kind: the cries of the poor, the oppressed, and the down-trodden. Like Bartimaeus in this weekend’s Gospel, these people in need also cry out. Jesus was able to hear Bartimaeus over the objections of many in the crowd. And in hearing him, he was able to help.

When we hear the clamorous news of all that is happening in the world, and take note of the hopeless actions of those who would make themselves known with a bomb or a gun, it might be good to open our ears just a little more-to listen attentively to hear the cries of those in need. We won’t be able to cure every blind man, nor will we be able to secure peace in every land. But we can each do a little bit to console, as the vision of Jeremiah in the first reading promises. Whether it is helping the victims of typhoons, supporting education efforts for the poor, or feeding the hungry through a donation to the local food pantry, we can be attentive to the cry of the blind beggar who once cried out, “Son of David, have pity on me,” and who cries out today for us to have pity as well.

Paul Michaels

Prayer

Provident God,
you give us a rich and abundant harvest
and bless us with every good gift.
May we use what you have given us
for our own good,
and for the benefit of others.
Open our ears to hear the cry of the poor,
and open our hearts to share the blessings
you have bestowed on us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Notices

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES RESPONDS TO FOUR EMERGENCIES
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is responding to four emergencies in the Asia Pacific region. The Philippines and Vietnam have been hit by typhoon Ketsana, while a tsunami struck Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, and an earthquake affected the island of Sumatra. CRS is working with Caritas Internationalis to plan for the long-term reconstruction vital to recovery efforts even while providing immediate emergency relief. For more information, and to learn how you can encourage parishioners to help, visit: http://crs.org/.

CATHOLIC NEAR EAST WELFARE ASSOCIATION
For more than 75 years, CNEWA has provided education, health care, relief services, and pastoral support in the Near East. This papal agency works quietly, often behind the scenes, to assist in places where others may not be able to go. To learn more visit: http://www.cnewa.org.

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
This collection will be taken up in many dioceses the weekend of November 21-22. For more information about CCHD visit: http://www.usccb.org/cchd/. Liturgical Publications Inc (LPi) has clip art and announcements from the USSCB for use in parish bulletins and newsletters. To learn how your parish can receive free access to these materials, click here.