GOSPEL, Mark (10, 46-52)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus
46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
In this passage of the Gospel, we are invited to think of all the “Bartimaeus’s” of this world screaming and searching to find light in the darkness of their meaningless life, challenging a hostile and incredulous crowd.
They find an answer, as Bartimaeus once did, in the encounter with the merciful prophet of Galilee. Everything changed in the soul of that believer He became worthy to receive the Kingdom “49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” Mark (10:49-50).
The dialogue between the blind and Jesus is the dialogue between man and God, between humanity marching on a set path in this world and the Lord who, unexpectedly, but constantly, crosses them on the very same path.
Bartimaeus, is the symbol of all helplessness, when in the dark but eager to find a sense of his superior vocation and his final destiny
Each of us needs Bartimaeus the faith to be able to see people with the same distinction as God sees us, elevating within us a better perception of within the progress of our lives.
A dynamic faith that looks at his fellow human being, as Jesus did when he passed by blind Bartimaeus, looking at him with love and affection.
To believe and see, to love and believe are two strokes of the same pen. May we, as we receive the light of faith, continue as Bartimaeus did to follow Jesus glorifying God.
PRAYER
We bless you, Father, for the love that compelled Christ in Jericho to feel sorry for the blind man on the road, an image of humanity in need of your light.
Lord, make sure that your love awakens our faith by curing our blindness, so that we can see everything with new eyes of faith, following Jesus’s principles.