Readings: Sirach 42:15-25; Psalm 33; Mark 10:46-52
Verse: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”
Bartimeus, the blind man in today’s Gospel, teaches several lessons.
1. Persistent prayer pays off! The people told Bartimeus to be quiet, but he kept calling out, even more loudly and persistent than before. Bartimeus knew that the heart of Christ was open to all and full of compassion, especially to the poor and needy. He knew that his prayer would be heard, if only he persisted in offering it, and he was right! In Ecuador, we have a saying: “Infant who does not cry, does not get nursed.” Bartimeus shows us we need to be bold and persistent in our prayer, whether it be of supplication, intercession, thanksgiving, adoration, or praise. No holding back anything. The Lord knows our needs better than we do but He wants us to express them to Him again and again, and transformation will come!
2. Faith allows us to find and know Christ We can only know Christ truly by faith. Bartimeus knew the heart of Christ so well because he believed in Him. He could see Christ not by the natural light of day but by the supernatural light of faith. Bartimeus believed that Jesus was not like the other religious leaders, who affirmed that an individual’s poverty, or blindness, or bad circumstances were a result of God’s judgment. Rather, he believed in the God who cares for the poor and the brokenhearted (e.g., Psalm 34:6, 18). When we trust in God we detect His presence, power, and love. When we only trust in ourselves, He seems far away. The light of faith opens our eyes and allows us to see the brilliance of God’s grace, especially during difficult circumstances.
3. Humility Mark’s Gospel points out that Bartimeus threw off his cloak when Jesus called him. The Fathers of the Church identified his cloak as a symbol of self-sufficiency, things we depend on, things that hold us back when we hear God calling us. By leaving his cloak behind, Bartimeus teaches us that our only sufficiency should be Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Beloved brothers and sisters, the purpose of prayer is not to change God but us. Today the Lord is asking again “what do you want me to do for you?” Let us be bold, persistent, and humble in our answer, and rest assured He will produce the transformation we need in our lives and in the lives of those we pray for.