This week, the Philippines suffered from the severe tropical storm Kristine (International name Trami). Most places raised their city a State of Calamity due to the Typhoon's damage to them. Some lost their loved ones, some were hurt and injured, some lost their houses and occupations, and some lost everything. It isn't easy to cope when faced with difficult challenges like storms in our lives. This 30th Sunday in ordinary time, our readings tell us not to lose hope in every calamity that comes; it encourages us to act like Bartimaeus, to be hopeful, and to be consistent in asking God what we need -- To strengthen our prayer life.
When I pray, sometimes I feel doubtful about whether God listens to my prayer. Doesn't the Lord get tired of my prayers? Maybe the Lord is immune in my everyday interaction with Him? But after all those struggles in praying, I remain and stay in Him. This Sunday’s Gospel encourages us to persist in praying to God as Bartimaeus did. Even though sometimes we don’t feel that we have God’s attention, God is always here, there, and everywhere. He is always ready to stop for you and call you to say, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Dear friends, let us remain in connection with God. No matter how blinded we are in the calamities of our lives, where they hinder us from seeing God’s hands, let us imitate Bartimaeus. No matter how the secular world tells us to shut up and be silent in reaching out to our God, may our faith and prayer make noise in shouting “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” May the readings for this Sunday, make us more hopeful and surrender our burdens to God. May we have a blessed Sunday!
