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What’s the weekly mettle maker?
Training tips and educational info in support of our free programs, that’s what! What’s mettle? Mettle is, “The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve.”
Mettle maker #429: Heroes and Villains
I’m sick and tired of the race to make heroes out of villains and villains out of heroes — the Great Greying that’s been ongoing for the last 80 years or so, starting slow in the aftermath of World War II, getting traction in the 1960s, and barreling out of control like a runaway train ever since. By “greying” I’m referring to the way in which, in the old westerns, the good guys wore white hats and bad guys wore black ones. At some point it became cool to smash our movies and TV shows with the sledge of cynicism and to stick grey hats on everybody.
If I see one more story about a corrupt cop, immoral lawyer, or depraved priest, my head’s going to explode. That’s one of the reasons why I like the show Blue Bloods so much. Cops and priests are portrayed positively, the villains are villains. and good guys are good guys — and the humanity of the good guys is displayed not by making them partially villainous, but by showing their humanity and good intentions. Also, Tom Selleck is the man.
Anyway, all of this came to mind because of the passing of the great Ron Ely, star of several great TV series including Tarzan, Sea Hunt, and The Aquanauts, and the erstwhile movie Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. I admit it, it’s an awful movie. But somehow it rises above its camp and silliness and, maybe because of the Doc Savage code scene (see photo below) it is one of my favorites.
“Let us strive every moment of our lives to make ourselves better and better to the best of our ability. So that all may profit by it. Let us think of the right, and render our assistance to all who may need it, with no regard to anything but justice. Let us take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let us be considerate of our country, our fellow citizens, and our associates in everything that we say and do. Let us do right to all, and wrong no man.” ~Ron Ely as pulp hero Doc Savage
Ely was a 6’4” dimpled Texan brick of a man, who could be as tough or as gentle as a role required. In real life, when tragedy ripped his life apart, he didn’t descend into fatalism. A strong man, he persevered in private, outside the public eye.
Just what the world needs now, I’d say — more heroes and less villains — in fiction, yes, but in real life far more.
Are you being a hero? If not, why not? Would you like to try? How about signing up for a totally free mind-body-spirit program that incorporates self-defense, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development? Sign up for our free Rough ‘n’ Tumble Distance Learning Program!
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Homily for the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time, 10/27/24 – Father Mitch
Readings: Jer 31:7-9, Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6, Heb 5:1-6, Mk 10:46-52
Mark 10:46-52 World English Bible
46 They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him.”
They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”
50 He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man said to him, “Rabboni,† that I may see again.”
52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.
Theology is a popular subject of discussion. We delight in debating the nature of God and his Creation or arguing about whether we are saved by grace or by works. We love to fight over the means of salvation. Some of us are monergists, who believe that we are saved by faith and the Holy Ghost alone, while others are pelagians who believe people can save themselves through works and the power of human will.
In the end however, as we see in today's gospel reading, these debates are dissolved in the encounter with Christ.
When we see him for who he is, all of the quibbling and debating is silenced, replaced by worship and awe. This is what happens here in Mark. Jesus is walking down the street and a blind man named Bartimaeus begs to be healed. Perhaps this is his real name, given to him by God to make a point; or perhaps St. Mark gives this man, who is nameless in the other gospels, an unusual Greek name to make a point. Either way, the name Bartimaeus is important. It means "Son of Timaeus," and Timeaus is the name of one of Plato's dialogues, a very heavy and complex book of Greek theology.
Bartimaeus is blind -- blinded by complex theology and philosophical concepts -- and begging to receive a greater kind of understanding. He longs for something more than just ideas, something deeper than mere argument, stale jargon, and dry, logical discourse. He doesn’t call out to a man. He doesn’t call out to Jesus, son of Joseph. No, Bartimaeus calls out to the Messiah, the Son of David, saying "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
Bartimaeus doesn’t want to talk to a man. He isn’t looking for more of the same old stale, intellectual insight. That’s why he calls out to Jesus, Son of David. He is groping in blindness for something more. He is seeking a redeemer. The people thereabout tell him to be silent. ‘Just be like everybody else,’ they say to him. ‘Be content with a human, logical understanding of God.’ But no, Bartimaeus keeps calling out, "Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus hears Bartimaeus and tells the others to call him near. Bartimaeus gets up and throws off his cloak. A man's cloak is his outer garment, his ego -- it's what he uses to display his wealth, his status, and his role in society. Throwing away his outer shell, he comes to Jesus, and by his faith Jesus heals him.
And now Bartimaeus can really see. He sees Jesus the Messiah, the Healer, God Incarnate. In that encounter, all debates are silenced. In a concept called synergism, salvation is revealed to be a process in which God and man cooperate. Salvation is not by faith and faith alone, not by God’s grace and his grace alone, nor by our works and our works alone. All three are required in harmony. Blind and helpless, incapable of finding our way toward salvation, we call out to God in worship, recognizing that only he can save us. Jesus extends his hand. We take it and walk with him. By him we are healed.
Seeing the world anew, we go and do his work.
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† 10:51 Rabboni is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “great teacher.”