This story of the blind beggar Bartimaeus is packed with much deeper meaning than what we can glean from first reading. First of all, it serves as a bookend to an earlier healing of a blind man recorded at the beginning of this journey to Jerusalem. However, that man was healed gradually while Bartimaeus is healed instantaneously. This is sort of a reflection on the manner in which the disciples spiritual blindness has been slowly healed along the journey, however, by the events that would take place in Jerusalem, they would soon see clearly who and what Jesus truly was and is.
Bartimaeus has parked himself on a busy thoroughfare which many many pilgrims would have traveled while on their way to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. While these crowds would have most likely been joyful and festive, such a stark contrast can be seen between them and the socially isolated blind man left on the side of the road. However, while he may be physically blind, his spiritual sight is 20/20. Upon hearing that Jesus of Nazareth is approaching, he begins to call out, referring to Jesus as “Son of David.” While the literal meaning of this title is simply “descendant of David,” to a Jew, this meant so much more. The “Son of David” was the one who would come to free them from their oppression, the Messiah. Bartimaeus is the first one in the Gospel of Mark to use this title. When Jesus calls him, the crowds tell him to take courage, as if he needed any encouragement. His shedding of his cloak infers the shedding of the old man, now ready to live remade in the likeness of Christ, through his personal encounter and healing by the Lord. Furthermore, Bartimaeus is the only one healed by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, whose name is specifically recorded. This infers that Bartimaeus did in fact follow after Jesus and was an active and know disciple in the early Church. So much that his name was remembered by the evangelists when relaying their Gospel message.
The questions we must ask ourselves after hearing this miraculous healing are:
Where are my blind spots?
Where do I not see the Lord active in my life and when are the times and situations I close myself off from Him rather than looking to Him for strength and guidance?
I was at the Youth Ministry Retreat last night (until almost 11:00 o’clock!) and the topic that was being discussed was seeking he Face of Jesus. When we imagine and think about Our Lord, what does his face look like to us? What do we see in the face of Jesus?
Is he stern? Is he judging? Is he loving? Is he kind?
We must seek the face of Jesus in our lives. We must open the eyes of our hearts and souls to see Him at work around us. Not only in mystical and spiritual experiences, but in our interactions with others in our daily lives. We ought to be able to recognize the face of Jesus in those we encounter who bring his peace, his love, even his correction at times, into our lives and changes us, heals us, for the better.
Once we can recognize Jesus in our lives we can better live out our baptismal call to be Christ to others. This requires us to allow Jesus to enter our hearts and heal our blindspots. The first reading that we heard from the Prophet Jeremiah sums up this process of conversion and healing we must open ourselves to:
They shall return as an immense throng.
They departed in tears,
but I will console them and guide them;
I will lead them to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall stumble.
Allow the Lord to console you and guide you. Search you heart and soul to find those blind spots and turn them over to Him. Be assured, he will heal our blindness and fill us with His Spirit, so we may go forth and serve as convicted witnesses in the world, living testaments to His grace, truth and His love.
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