Word to the Wise
Sunday, October 27, 2024 - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[Jer 31:7-9; Heb 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52]I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng. [Jeremiah] "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. [Mark]
There is much to learn from the story of the healing of blind Bartimaemus. Just his state in life needs to be considered. He has very little in this world. His blindness would have isolated him from society and he is reduced to begging by the roadside. Since there was a fair amount of sound coming from a crowd, he would have called out for alms. What is unique about his cry is that it is a profession of faith! "Jesus, SON OF DAVID, have pity on me!" The title, "Son of David," would mean a recognition of the messiah! Did he learn this from the crowd? If he did, the crowd still didn't understand the meaning of the title because they tried to silence him. But Jesus heard him and stopped to help. The result of the encounter, quoted above, is not only did Bartimaemus receive his physical sight but also follows Jesus "on the way." Although, in the Gospel According to Mark, the real significance of Jesus only comes out with his death and resurrection, Bartimaeus was further along in his faith than the crowd was!
One thing I always take away from this story is the importance of "seeing" faith in those who are crying out from the roadside. Faith is where one finds it and we can be so caught up in our "following" Jesus that we try to silence those who aren't part of the "crowd" because they are interrupting our piety or devotional practice. Jesus will have to tell us to "call them." However, once Jesus says that, maybe we will offer the invitation, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you!" Note that Bartimaeus throws aside his one possession - his cloak - and reaches out to Jesus. His faith is quite a contrast to that of the crowd. If nothing else, he challenges us to realize that we may all be "blind beggars" and need to cry out, "Jesus, son of David," have pity on me!" AMEN