This Sunday, we will hear the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar whose sight Jesus restored. For the evangelist, St. Mark, the story of Bartimaeus is meant to be the story of every Christian.
Bartimaeus is acutely aware of his blindness. How could he not be? And his blindness makes him deeply aware of his need for help. Do we too need to rediscover an awareness of our own sinfulness and blindness in order, like Bartimaeus, to cry out for the mercy of Jesus and, upon receiving it, to follow him “on the way” of Christian discipleship? The humble acknowledgment of our need for a Savior is the beginning of Christian discipleship.
Bartimaeus perseveres in his cry for help from the passing Jesus, and his perseverance is rewarded with a miracle of healing. Do we persevere in our prayer? Or do we easily become discouraged because what we are praying for is not immediately answered or is not answered in the way that we would like? The subtext for all Christian prayer is always the divine will. We pray for this or we pray for that, but we must always frame our prayer in the words of Jesus himself: “Not my will but Your will be done.” Perseverance and Acceptance of God’s will: both are vital aspects of Christian prayer.
Embarrassed by the scene that he is causing, the people around Bartimaeus try to stop him from crying out to Jesus. But Bartimaeus will not be stopped. Are we too embarrassed to acknowledge that we are sinners and need a Savior? Bartimaeus refuses to stand on any such ceremony or to let others keep him from Jesus. Do we?
When Jesus calls for him, Bartimaeus immediately throws off his cloak and runs to him. Nothing will slow him down from running to Jesus. What’s the heavy cloak that keeps us from running to Jesus for light, mercy, and forgiveness? Is it perhaps some sin or addictive behavior that keeps us tightly locked within its grip? Is it some hurt that we cannot let go, or some past offense that we cannot yet forgive? Is it perhaps the heavy weight of spiritual laziness or indifference? Or is it just easier for us to coast along spiritually rather than take in hand the adult responsibilities and challenges of Christian discipleship? The gospel description of Bartimaeus running to the Lord - free and unencumbered - will always be a prophetic witness against any posture on our part of indifference, hesitancy, mediocrity, or spiritual laziness.
When Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants, he answers simply and directly, and on the level of his immediate need. In other words, Bartimaeus does not even pretend that he wants the faith to move mountains or the gift of discipleship. He simply tells Jesus that he wants to see. Jesus takes him exactly where he is and heals him. The lesson is clear: the little faith of Bartimaeus at this moment is enough for Jesus to work a miracle for him. How often do we feel that we must first become saints in order to approach Jesus? At those times, let us remember the story of Bartimaeus and how Jesus was able to take his little seed of faith and transform it into the wonderful miracle of sight. However little our faith may be, when that faith is joined to the power of God’s grace, miracles happen! Do we really believe that?
After he was healed of his physical blindness, Bartimaeus continued to follow Jesus “on the way” of Christian discipleship. He trusted that by following Jesus wherever he led, he would come to the fullness of truth, to the joy of heaven, and to the brilliant light of glory. And that he did. And so will we if we make our own the gospel story of Bartimaeus!
Rev. Lewis S. Fiorelli, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
