Gospel
Mk 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
Reflection
Looking at previous chapter's in Mark's Gospel, we see that there were many people, especially the scribes and the Pharisees, that could not see Jesus for who He is. There can be times in our lives where we are also spiritually blind.
Life can be difficult and trying, in these times we tend to look no further than what is blocking our path. Bartimaeus is sitting on the roadside doing what he thinks he does best, begging. However, you can see the hope that fills his cries. He has heard that Jesus of Nazareth is near. His persistence exudes the aroma of the grace of God. He does not want to be blind any more. When the disciples tell him, "take courage and get up Jesus is calling you." He threw his most valued possession off, his cloak, and sprang up to meet Jesus.
Jesus gives Bartimaeus his sight, but He also tells him to "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Jesus gives him the freedom to choose the way he will go, and in turn, Bartimaeus chooses to follow him. Bartimaeus has not only gained his sight physically, but he also sees Jesus for who he is, by the grace of God. As we go through our days dealing with the trials that come our way, at what point do we cry out, to Jesus for help? "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
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