30th DURING THE YEAR 30th DURING THE YEAR Cycle BCycle B

The "Moonlight" by Beethoven makes us want to see clear, despite being night

End of the Sermon

In the centre, excavations of the ancient Jericho (in the background current Jericho)

SERMON on the CHURCH

This sermon we have been following for so many Sundays is so paradoxical that if Jesus does not open our eyes of FAITH we

can not understand it

Jericho, at the end of the road to Jerusalem. In the background, current city; on 1st level, excavations of ancient Jericho

Jesus wants to heal the blindness of the heart of the Church

Mk 10:46 - 52 And Mk 10:46 - 52 And they came to Jericho. they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving And as he was leaving Jericho with his Jericho with his disciples and a great disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. by the roadside.

The blind The blind man, like all man, like all

the the marginalized, marginalized,

is by the is by the roadsideroadside

The Church of Jesus

must be, like him, by the

roadside, on the borders,

where the brothers are

suffering

Roads on the edge of the ancient Jericho

And when he heard that it And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David. And "Jesus, Son of David. And many rebuked him, telling many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy "Son of David, have mercy on me!" on me!"

The Church of all times, has to be poor, humble,

detached from all goods. Only thus is OPEN to God that, always benevolent, wants to give her more of what she

needs, much more than what she could

expect

Palestinians in Jericho

Any physical or spiritual, well Any physical or spiritual, well accepted poverty, leads us to accepted poverty, leads us to open ourselves to the novelty open ourselves to the novelty

as the blind Bartimaeusas the blind Bartimaeus

And Jesus stopped and And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him. And said, "Call him. And they called the blind they called the blind man, saying to him, man, saying to him, "Take heart. Get up; "Take heart. Get up; he is calling you." And he is calling you." And throwing off his cloak, throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and he sprang up and came to Jesus. came to Jesus.

Through Jesus, God calls us from around the world, at Through Jesus, God calls us from around the world, at all timesall times

Each step of God, is the time to start

a new HUMANITY,

from new origins

Tower 8.000 BC

And Jesus said to And Jesus said to him, "What do you him, "What do you want me to do for want me to do for you?" And the blind you?" And the blind man said to him, man said to him, "Rabbi, let me "Rabbi, let me recover my sight." recover my sight."

Screened all the years, and of what has been done in past centuries, it is only

mutual collaboration, solidarity, which with the

help of anonymous hands, have patiently built, what

remains

Remains of walls

Lord, that we see what Lord, that we see what is really important in is really important in

this lifethis life

And Jesus said to And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; him, "Go your way; your faith has made your faith has made you well." And you well." And immediately he immediately he recovered his sight recovered his sight and followed him on and followed him on the way. the way.

Seek out the LIGHT is reinventing a new

society, to envision a new world governed

by a few less material values

FAITH opens the eyes FAITH opens the eyes seeking LIGHT and seeking LIGHT and

want to follow Jesus want to follow Jesus and GOODNESS by and GOODNESS by

way of lifeway of life

Miracle of the blind man of Jericho

Summary of the sermon to the Church (Mk 9:33-10, 52)

In Capernaum, on the core values: 1- The first must consider themselves the last and servants 2- Host the weakest within the Church 3- Do not exclude anyone from the church community4- Be a church that always gives peace

In Jordan, on the members of the Church:1- That marriages love themselves and do not separate 2- That the youths are available for the Kingdom 3- That those who have left everything fear not suffering4- That no one make honorable ambition, nor first places

WILL WE FINALLY OPEN THE EYES

Lord, grant us to be a welcoming CHURCH,

that moves along with You on the Gospel roads

Nuns of St. Benet de Montserrat www.monestirsantbenetmontserrat.com/regina

Jericho is the oldest city in the world. You can see the video of the excavations: https://youtu.be/s52XKQyCbZY

Cages to see excavations