Mark 10:46-52
During his earthly ministry, Our Blessed Lord had reached out and healed many through his miracles. Not many of those who were healed are named. In today’s Gospel, we are not only told of the name of the blind man who received his sight from Jesus, but we are also told of who his father was. This might indicate that he was a well-known figure, perhaps a person who was once very important.
During his earthly ministry, Our Blessed Lord had reached out and healed many through his miracles. Not many of those who were healed are named. In today’s Gospel, we are not only told of the name of the blind man who received his sight from Jesus, but we are also told of who his father was. This might indicate that he was a well-known figure, perhaps a person who was once very important.
But regardless of the social background, Bartimaeus provides us with an example of how to respond to God during particular incidents, special moments or unpredictable events. Often sickness, a heartache, or a setback or misfortune provide us with a unique opportunity to speak to God in a certain way that we might not be at times accustomed to.
Rather than complaining, for looking for pity or getting angry at God or religious leaders for what happened him, first Bartimaeus was humble before God, calling out “Lord have mercy”. And even though he did not receive an immediate response from God, and added to this a certain group in the crowd kept telling him to be quiet, Bartimaeus persisted – he never gave up hope that God would answer his cry for help.
How often might we call out only once and them presuming there is no reply from God, we allow certain groups in the crowd, mobs, commentators in the world and throughout the internet to provide the answer! Fortunately, Bartimaeus instinctively knew that they could not answer his deepest questions nor heal him.
Silence from God does not mean he does not hear you. Often, God will answer our prayers by telling us to speak louder, to ignore those who try to control our thoughts or silence us. In our prayers, we need to also hear ourselves. This is important. Bartimaeus knew exactly what he wanted to ask Jesus. He was focused; he knew what he was lacking and what he truly needed. In fact, God began answering his prayer even before he called out. How?
Probably without realizing it, even though he was blind and was obviously in the dark about who Jesus really was, Bartimaeus was inspired to reflect on his own personal situation. Something stirred him to stand up high and, without fear or embarrassment, to call out to God himself. Well done!
Authentic prayer does not come from our own efforts; it is first and foremost a gift from God, even though God may at first remain hidden. He stirs us to reach out towards him, lifting us up from the mob that would keep us from thinking for ourselves even though we may find ourselves in darkness or in the midst of incomprehensible suffering (cf. CCC 2027).
Our Lord hears us when we persist in praying when it comes from the depth and when it does not give up in hope. Jesus may have been renowned, during his lifetime as a miracle worker – healing the broken bodies of those disabled, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and restoring speech to those unable to talk. But he was not a superman, a traveling faith-healer. Every time he responded to a persistent, authentic prayer that came from the heart and soul, not only did he respond with compassion - it literally cost him!
To repair our bodies, his own body will have to be crushed. To bring light into the world, the light must be taken from his own eyes. So that we might hear and have a true voice, Our Lord must enter into deathly silence. Christ heals Bartimaeus by taking his place.
Upon the Cross, our Blessed Lord pays the ransom, endures the suffering and willingly gives us his life so that whatever hardship we are to endure, it will have meaning and value only if we allow our prayer to come forth from the depth of our soul to reach the heavens, beyond the cry and hysteria of the mob. Then, when the time is right, from the Cross we will be assured of victory over the greatest enemy, death – and all other enemies will pale in comparison.
Our Blessed Mother Mary was not spared darkness and loss in her life. She stood at the Cross and shared in the anguish of her Son. As we stand around this sacred altar and with her, ready to enter into the sacrifice of Calvary, may she help us to pray authentically with faith and hope, so that, even though at times we may walk in the valley of darkness, to evil will we fear!
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time