First Reading: Jer 31:7-9; Psalm: 126. R. v. 3; Second Reading: Heb 5:1-6; Gospel: Mk 10:46-52
THE GREAT ENCOUNTER
BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP
The gospel of today is very insightful for our spiritual growth if we reflectively followed the event as it unfolds. There are a couple of indicators in this gospel narrative that reveals the place of Bartimaeus among his people. The first is that Bartimaeus was insignificant in the face of his people. His name was not even known, let alone mentioned in this story. ‘Bar’ means ‘Son of’ and ‘Timaeus’ was the name of his father. So, ‘Bar-Timaeus’ literally means the ‘Son of Timaeus. His condition relegated him to the level of a nobody in the eyes of the society. But as we can see from this story, Jesus did not see him so. For Jesus would make Bartimaeus the centre of attention in this story. This goes without saying that God’s love does not discriminate. And this becomes a wake-up call for us to care more for the needs of the poor and the invalid.
As Jesus departs Jericho to Jerusalem, this blind beggar seated by the roadside heard all the commotion and wondered what it was all about. As the story goes, Jesus was accompanied not only by his disciples but by a great crowd as well. This explains the curiosity of this blind beggar as to what was happening. Luckily, he heard by chance that it was Jesus of Nazareth who was passing by. Bartimaeus though was blind, but he most certainly has heard so much about the miracles of Jesus that he believed without doubt that this was his moment, and he seized it. For fear that Jesus might not hear him for the sake of the crowd, he called out with all the strength in him “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The crowd that was already a barrier made things even more difficult for him by telling him to shut up. How dare he a poor beggar disturb the Messiah? But the more they tried to dissuade him, the more he cried out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Now, what happened next offers us some spiritual insight. In the midst of the commotion and dissuasion from the crowd, Jesus heard him still. The noise and the attempt of those who tried to shut Bartimaeus up were so impotent that the cry of Bartimaeus was heard clearly by Jesus. “Surely, the hand of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save or his ear dull that it cannot hear” (Is 59:1). But we must remember that Jesus only responded having seen the unrelenting spirit of Bartimaeus. When discouragement, fear and doubt threaten to shut our voice of prayer, God desires that we scale that fence. Our discouragement and doubt could be instigated by those we least expect. It could be a spouse, a parent or a friend who mocks us for believing or discourages us from praying or attending Masses. If you are facing such barrier, remember Bartimaeus today.
When Jesus stopped, he did not go to Bartimaeus or charged him directly to come. But rather he turned to the same crowd that tried to silence Bartimaeus and said “Call him.” Just as to the crowd, this command is addressed to every one of us today: “Call him;” “Call her.” Help that little boy or girl that you see desires to serve God but only needs to be guided. Help your spouse or children whom you see is getting weary with the things of God and needs a little push or encouragement from you. Help that friend that is weighed down by cancer and needs someone to remind him/her that God has not deserted them. Support with love and charity that neighbour who has giving up trying and sees no glimmer of hope that life would get better in the future. Jesus charges us today to bring hope and not discouragement to those who are weighed down.
Hearing the soothing words from the crowd: “Take heart; rise, he is calling you;” Bartimaeus was energised and he sprang up and came to Jesus throwing off his cloak. Our soothing words of love, encouragement and comfort could inject vigour potent enough to draw wearied souls to Christ. We could also be the Bartimaeus that needs that unrelenting faith to encounter Jesus. And one special encounter with Jesus can remarkably change our faith story.
When Bartimaeus threw off his cloak, he left behind his old self. And when Jesus restored his sight, it was not just his physical sight that was restored but his faith in Christ was also renewed. And when Jesus said to him “Go your way; your faith has made you well;” Bartimaeus chose not his own way but the way of Christ; for he followed Christ on the way. The Bartimaeus encounter challenges us today to trust in God unrelentingly irrespective of our conditions; for God never abandons those who trust in him. And one special moment with Christ can change the course of our faith journey.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus, when doubt and discouragement weighs us down; please strengthen our faith to trust in you still. Amen.
