Today, (the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time) in the Gospel of Mark, we hear the story of the blind man Bartimaeus. This is a familiar story about the man whom Jesus cured of blindness on the way to Jerusalem. Jesus tells Bartimeus that what saves him is his faith—the very same thing that will save us! Bartimeus could “see” who Jesus was—in spite of his being sightless. This “seeing” had little to do with physical eyesight—this was about perception and understanding. It is the sort of seeing we mean by the word “insight.” The idea is that we must “see” the world with eyes of faith.
Bartimeus calls out to Jesus to have pity on him; and he names Jesus as the Son of David. Others tell him to stop calling; but Jesus tells them to call Bartimaeus to himself. So they do call him saying: “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” When the Lord asks Bartimeus what he would like, he replies, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus then tells Bartemeus to go on his way as his faith has saved him. Bartimaeus received his sight, and then he “followed him on the way.”
The story of Bartimaeus is a paradigm—an archetype—for the faith story of many of us. We all need insight to be able to see with the eyes of faith, but we also need courage in to go to Jesus. He calls all of us to Himself. It takes the insight of faith in order that our old life will die for the new life in Him to take place. It takes courage to change and be true disciples of Christ. We all know how difficult it is to reconcile our actions—to take stock of ourselves as Christians, and to then change—but “Take courage…Jesus is calling you.”
We know that blindness may be a metaphor for a lack of wisdom, faith, or understanding. In faith we know that all we need to do is ask like Bartimeus, “Master, I want to see.” We all yearn for the grace that faith brings! In answering the call of Jesus, we must also ask for the courage to follow him on the way. Our faith demands much, it is not an easy road to follow.
Today we sing the familiar old hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’. “I once was blind but now I see…” As you sing those words, give thanks to God for the grace of eyes of faith, for courage, and for the opportunity to be together in worship and praise. We are all Bartimaeus, in that our faith has saved us, too.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
P.S. Have you signed up for a Ministry yet?
Bartimeus calls out to Jesus to have pity on him; and he names Jesus as the Son of David. Others tell him to stop calling; but Jesus tells them to call Bartimaeus to himself. So they do call him saying: “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” When the Lord asks Bartimeus what he would like, he replies, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus then tells Bartemeus to go on his way as his faith has saved him. Bartimaeus received his sight, and then he “followed him on the way.”
The story of Bartimaeus is a paradigm—an archetype—for the faith story of many of us. We all need insight to be able to see with the eyes of faith, but we also need courage in to go to Jesus. He calls all of us to Himself. It takes the insight of faith in order that our old life will die for the new life in Him to take place. It takes courage to change and be true disciples of Christ. We all know how difficult it is to reconcile our actions—to take stock of ourselves as Christians, and to then change—but “Take courage…Jesus is calling you.”
We know that blindness may be a metaphor for a lack of wisdom, faith, or understanding. In faith we know that all we need to do is ask like Bartimeus, “Master, I want to see.” We all yearn for the grace that faith brings! In answering the call of Jesus, we must also ask for the courage to follow him on the way. Our faith demands much, it is not an easy road to follow.
Today we sing the familiar old hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’. “I once was blind but now I see…” As you sing those words, give thanks to God for the grace of eyes of faith, for courage, and for the opportunity to be together in worship and praise. We are all Bartimaeus, in that our faith has saved us, too.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
P.S. Have you signed up for a Ministry yet?
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