TGIMMshattered

	TURN YOUR CAR AROUND

The Gospel

MARK 10:46-52

They came to Jericho. And as Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, get up, he is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

The Media

"Shattered"

O.A.R.

"In a way, I need a change from this burnout scene: another time, another town, another everything, but it’s always back to you. I’m good without you. How many times can I break till I shatter? Over the line, can’t define what I’m after, I always turn the car around. Give me a break—let me make my own pattern. All it takes is some time but I’m shattered, I always turn the car around."

The blind man Bartimaeus in the Gospel was a person who met resistance when he cried out to Jesus. But convinced as he was that Jesus really could help him, he did not let those around him keep him back from beginning his life again. He knew what he had to do, and he did it.

If we are to grow in maturity, we must understand the concept of beginning again. Our human natures are such that we often fail to carry out what a mature person would do. Once we realize it, we must have the courage to start over, to "turn the car around" in O.A.R.'s words, to begin again. In order to accomplish it, we must have a certain amount of confidence in ourselves. The person in O.A.R.'s song had that confidence even though he felt shattered; Bartimaeus possessed it as he called out to Jesus.

It is true that there are people who are overly confident in their abilities, and must be toned down in their attitudes toward life and others. But it is likewise true that many, maybe even most people must develop a better sense of confidence in themselves. Such confidence begins with an awareness of who they are and what they should be. They must recognize that God has given them one body, one soul, a certain set of talents, and an intelligence. It may take some effort, but everyone can be more than they are now.

In many ways, we must "turn the car around," that is, we should be showing maturity in the way we conduct ourselves. It is the only way to grow. And to do it well, we must gain the confidence that we can do it. In life, we do not want to merely sit by the side of the road and watch the world unfold around us; we want to involve ourselves in that world, accept the challenge of maturity, and have the confidence to cry out to the Lord who will help us.

THOUGHT

If you want to grow into a more mature person, what areas need the most change in your life right now?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son has inspired us to begin again as we grow, that is, to show more maturity in our lives. Give us the confidence that we need in order to change what we must. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike