We can learn a lot from today’s Gospel reading (Mark10: 46-52) about Bartimaeus, the blind beggar whose sight Jesus restores as he is leaving Jericho to enter into Jerusalem – shortly before Palm Sunday and Jesus’ passion.
There are many levels on which this reading can be understood. How many times do we see “beggars” on our street and wish that they would be quiet and not cry out to us, who are Jesus’ instruments, to have pity on them. The reading also speaks to us about being persistent in prayer. Even when many of those present “scolded him and told him to keep quiet…Bartimaeus only shouted all the louder.” When Jesus says: “Call him here” it reminds us that Jesus is listening to our petitions – do not despair.
The challenge for us during the Year of Faith is to do as Bartimaeus did and ask Jesus to let us “see” again through the eyes of our faith. Bartimaeus obviously was not always blind. Through Baptism we receive “new” sight. However, some of us become “blind” along life’s journey and forget how to see through the eyes of faith.
By rediscovering our faith, as the Holy Father asks us to do during the year, we should be proud to profess our faith with courage, conviction and joy. It is Bartimaeus’ faith that saved him. Note that once his sight was returned he followed Jesus along the road. Remember the Holy Father’s words in his Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei: “The door of faith is always open for us…” Those who have drifted away from our faith or who are not living our faith as we should, Jesus is beckoning to us to get back on “track” and follow him. Our vocation is to strive to be holy as our Father in heaven is holy.
The Year of Faith is a time of enlightenment, a time of grace, a time to ask Jesus to remove the scales from our eyes so that we can truly see, judge and act from a Catholic perspective and play our part in building His Kingdom.
Pope Benedict XVI focussed on Bartimeaus’ encounter with Christ in his midday Angelus on Oct 30, 2006. He said: “Faith is a path of illumination; it starts from the humility of acknowledging one’s need of salvation and arrives at the personal encounter with Christ, who calls [one] to follow him on the way of love.”
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We live in an age when we can also become blind by individualism, selfishness, moral relativism, laziness etc. Many are spiritually blind and need spiritual healing. It is spiritual blindness that prevents us from seeing Jesus in the poor, the vulnerable, the homeless, the marginalised, and the socially excluded.
It’s time for us to do as Bartimaeus did – he threw off his cloak, jumped up and went to Jesus. Are we ready to throw off all that keeps us from our Lord, run to Him and follow Him?
Of course, even though Jesus would have known what he wanted, there is a reason why he asked him: “What do you want me to do for you?” As the Holy Father said at the close of the African Synod (2009): “God knows but asks…He wants man to stand up on his feet, to rediscover the courage to ask for what belongs to his dignity. The Father wants to hear from the living voice of the son the free decision to see the light again, that light for which he created him…
“faith in Jesus Christ — when it is well understood and practiced — guides men and nations to freedom in truth…Bartimaeus who, after he is healed, follows Jesus along the road, is the image of humanity that, enlightened by faith, sets out on the journey to the promised land. Bartimaeus, in turn, becomes a witness of the light, recounting and showing in the first person that he has been healed, renewed, reborn. This is the Church in the world: the community of reconciled persons, workers for peace and justice; ‘salt and light’ in the midst of the society of men and the nations.”
Let’s get enthusiastic about our faith and show the nation that we are credible witnesses.
Prayer: Lord, help us to “radiate the word of truth that the Lord Jesus has left us” (Lumen Gentium). Holy Spirit set our hearts on fire so that we may live genuinely Catholic lives and proclaim our faith boldly. We believe, Lord, increase our Faith.
