Seeing is believing!

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 24, 2021

Readings: Jeremiah 31:7–9; Psalm 126:1–6; Hebrews 5:1–6; Mark 10:46–52

Jesus heals the blind man

To watch and listen to my video reflections, please click here

 What would you expect from a healer? Of course, healing! And this is exactly what we look for when we suffer from terrible chronic illness or birth deformity. The only thing that we want when we are sick is just the healing or getting over it. Every person in this world wants to spend his or her time in good health. In fact, health determines our destiny, our present and future.

1. Sight is the answer to blindness

The gospel reading of today (Mark 10:46–52) is full of promise, hope and deliverance. The poor beggar has been blind for long, probably from his birth. He might not have understood what colour is or what beauty means to his eyes. He might not have experienced the charm of a rose or might not have understood what a mountain is all about. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus is looking for sight and waiting for his eyes to be opened. He was lost in the world because of his blindness. Not only he was blind, but even the world had blinded him. In other words, he had no place in society. He found comfort only at a street corner. In fact, streets had become his home. He was not considered a contributor to society's progress. In fact, he was marginalized in every sense of the word. That is why those words from the crowd are so stern and cruel: "And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent" (Mark 10:48). People even disliked his voice. That is why there is so much antipathy here. 

"Master, I want to see" (Mark 10:51) is the only wish Bartimaeus has. He wants his wish to be realized in the person of Jesus, the Son of David. For the blind beggar has such deep faith in him. He has waited for a long time for Jesus to pass by this street. Thus he might regain his sight. That is what exactly happens here. He is full of energy in spite of his blindness and begging trade. As the scripture says " And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus" (Mark 10:50). What a person of joy he must have been in spite of his blindness. Enthusiasm was abounding in him. He was bubbling with positive energy that one day, Jesus would pass by near to him and the prophet would give him his sight. He did not concentrate on his blindness but on the sight, wanting to see again not dimly but brightly. Put your faith in the sight and you will see again. 

2. Keeping our dreams alive

One of the fascinating things that we see here is the hope and dream of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus. In his hopeless situation, he was hoping for the best. He had not given up on being blind or beggar. He was a beggar with a dream. He had a dream larger than his infirmities or inadequacies of life. What mattered for him is that hope, a hope with full of dreams which had sight as its focus to be attained. He was ready to wait, and even accept mockery and contempt of people. He only knew a loud cry or shout of attention would bring Jesus with a gift of sight to him. We might consider how often we have turned away from Jesus because of the words of others, or, worse, how we have been members of the crowd, criticising or silencing others in their journey of faith. Even in spite of our failures, inadequacies and losses still always a simmer of hope that could change everything upside down. Moreover, we can find true meaning in our life.  Joni Eareckson Tada writes, “The Christian faith is meant to be lived moment by moment. It isn't some broad, general outline—it’s a long walk with a real Person. Details count: passing thoughts, small sacrifices, a few encouraging words, little acts of kindness, brief victories over nagging sins.”

St Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises asks the retreatant to have an indomitable desire to have an encounter with the Lord. The saint says, if you don't have a desire then you need to pray for the grace to have that desire, in other words, pray for the desire to desire. It is not in the Buddhist sense of having desire leads to dukkha, unhappiness or sadness. St Ignatius emphasizes having an orderly desire that would lead to God. Anything that could bring us closer to God should be desired. Perhaps Bartimaeus was looking for a way out to enter into deeper communion with God by regaining his sight. That is why we read in the Gospel passage: "And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way" (Mark 10:52). In other words, his dream of getting sight also allowed him to be the disciple of Jesus. He followed the Son of David instantly and no one can stop him. His life was transformed by his encounter with Jesus.  

3. Unfailing faith makes a person complete

An unwavering faith led Bartimaeus to have his sight as well as honour in society. The words of Jesus "Go your way; your faith has saved you"  is a confirmation to the kind of person he was. He is no more a beggar or a blind. In his healing, Bartimaeus is a full and complete man. Being a blind man, Bartimaeus lived in an imaginary world. With the new sight, he is in the real world of flesh and blood where he can see and feel it. The faith confirms his hope in Jesus that he is the real Messiah, the anointed one, who would give salvation to people (2 Samuel 7:12–16; Isaiah 11:9; Jeremiah 23:5). When Christ gives Bartimaeus his sight, he doesn’t endow him with a unique superpower but restores to him something which belongs to his life as a human being.  All the more, Jesus shows that he exercises that power in kindness and love for humanity. In Jesus, there is always light. He is present in any movement of the day or night. He is constantly present in our lives provided we are aware of and welcome him into our thought, feelings, desires, prayers, actions and intentions. 

As we go on doing daily chores, perhaps from our part we must be vigilant to focus more closely on what we are really seeing. When we pay closer attention to the works of God there would certainly be the guiding hand of God. Hence, when we grow in a sense of seeing God in all things we develop truly a thorough understanding of His unfailing willingness to be with us. Bartimaeus is a symbol of his people where God has done great things in their lives. In him, we find that life need not be of tears and weeping but of healing and prosperity. In sum, the liturgical readings of this Sunday invite us to have Jesus as the focus of attention. Only in him, we find true healing for our body, mind and soul.  

Questions for reflections

1. How has your faith grown in the person of Jesus Christ over the years?

2. In times of vulnerability, distress, disappointments, and defeat how strong you are to place your trust in God and seek His mercy?

3. Do you feel when things are not at your side blind to see the vision of God?

4. If Jesus asks the same question that he asked Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?” What would you ask? 

5. If God has done great things in your life, in return what can you do for all that He has done for you?

Prayer:

Dear gracious Lord, I come before you today and I thank You for all the blessings that You have given me. Many times my life is so full of busywork that I neglect my relationship with You: for that I am truly sorry. I know that You never neglect me, for if You did, my very life would cease to be. Continue to pull me to Yourself, guide me in my journey, and hold me close in Your heart. May I feel your presence within me. Give me the grace to courageously follow you.  Help me to seek only your voice, even when the voices of others – and my own voice – tell me differently.  

Lord, may I be a person of Hope. Help me to heal the divisions! Give me the courage to be your voice, a voice of Love, Life, Light, Justice and Peace. Show me how to cast out fear, falsehoods and instill truth and trust. Finally, Jesus, send your Spirit again and again, so our hearts may turn toward you, heal what is broken, comfort all who suffer and mourn, and renew the face of this earth. Seeking earnestly your blessings of peace this day and always, in Jesus’ precious name I pray. AMEN. 

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

October 22, 2021