30th Sunday OT(b) Mark 10: 46-52
As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ 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.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 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.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
I have seen Bartimaeus all my life
Sitting beside the busy roads of our life. Through no fault of their own, outcast and discarded, collateral damage in our society’s rush to power, prestige and pleasure .
Sometimes Bartimaeus is the street person asking for a dollar. The ex-con looking for a job. The addict looking for a fix. The hooker looking for a John.
Sometimes Bartimaeus is the trans-gender person feeling unacknowledged. The single parent suffering from depression. The senior suffering from loneliness. The teen suffering from low self esteem. The workaholic suffering from a need for constant affirmation.
Sometimes Bartimaeus is sitting right next to you in the pew.
And our society’s response today is no different than 2000 years ago. It tells us to ignore those on the sides of the street. That they have only themselves to blame. That we have no responsibility for them.
And even we Catholics, just like the crowd that followed Jesus, say “Shhhh, stay back there and be quiet, Bartimaeus. We’ve got important things to do. You are interrupting us. You are embarrassing us. We can’t fit you into our agenda right now. You are a square peg in a round hole, an intrusion into our otherwise comfortable lives”
Yes, I have seen Bartimaeus all my life.
But where I see Bartimaeus the most, is when I look in the mirror.
For I, like Bartimaeus, and like most of us, am a broken wounded person in need of healing. And you and I are blind, but in a much worse way than our friend Bart. You see, his spiritual vision was 20:20. Though his eyes could not see Jesus, he called on him in faith and trusted Jesus. How often we who can use our eyes, are blind to the love, healing and mercy of God. And so we are blind in the worst way – spiritually.
Jesus asks you and I the same question he asked Bartimaeus – “What do you want me to do for you”
Our answer should the same is his … “Master I want to see. Heal me.”
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that causes by heart to harden when others ask me for help.
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that causes me to look away when the presence of one of your precious but wounded children makes me uncomfortable.
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that closes my mind to the vastness of your mercy, even to those who I find no mercy in my heart towards.
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that stops me from slowing down and giving my presence and attention to those who need an ear to listen, or a shoulder to cry on.
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that stops my tears when I hear of the poverty and suffering of others in the world
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that convinces me that I don’t have a responsibility to care for all of God’s creation
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that makes me think I am only one insignificant person, and there is not much I can do.
Heal me from the spiritual blindness that causes me to fear letting go of control, and trusting in God.
Master, I want to see. Heal me.