Gospel: Mark 10:46-52
And many
rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him. So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.
He threw aside
his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do
you want me to do for you? The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to
see. Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you. Immediately he
received his sight and followed him on the way.
They are the acts of refusing to give up no matter how great the trials and odds against us may be. We continue to seek and follow what is good because deep in our hearts we believe that God is with us, that He hears our prayers, and that He will never abandon us in our struggles. Even when the road is difficult and uncertain, faith gives us the courage to move forward and persistence gives us the strength to continue calling upon the Lord.
The blind and
poor man Bartimaeus had this kind of faith-filled persistence. Humanly
speaking, all the odds were against him in his desire to have an encounter with
Jesus. He was blind and poor. He had no power, influence, or status in life.
Yet when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out with all his heart,
“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me” (Mark 10:48).
Many rebuked
Bartimaeus and told him to keep silent, but the more they tried to silence him,
the more he persistently called out to Jesus. What gave Bartimaeus such courage
and determination? It was his deep faith. He believed with all his heart that
Jesus would hear him, notice him, and heal him.
Ironically,
Bartimaeus was blind and had not seen Jesus perform miracles with his own eyes.
Yet he believed. It was enough for him to hear the powerful and life-giving
name of Jesus. His faith did not depend on what he could physically see.
Instead, his faith rested on who Jesus truly is.
Because of
his deep faith and persistence, Bartimaeus gained the attention of Jesus. At
that very moment, he was healed and regained his sight. What a beautiful
reminder for all of us that sincere faith and perseverance can draw us closer
to the heart of Christ.
In our own
lives, there are moments when we feel discouraged, weak, rejected, or burdened
by problems and sufferings. There are times when we may feel that God is silent
or far away. But like Bartimaeus, may we continue to call upon Jesus with
confidence and trust.
As long as we
do not give up on Him, miracles can happen in our lives. Perhaps it may be
healing from sickness, peace in our hearts, restoration in our families,
answers to our persistent prayers, or the strength to carry the crosses we bear
each day.
The Lord
never ignores a heart that humbly and faithfully seeks Him. He sees our tears,
hears our cries, and knows the deepest desires of our hearts. Our task is to
continue believing, continue praying, and continue drawing near to Him no
matter how difficult life may become.
How
persistent are we in our desire to encounter Jesus personally? How deep is our
faith when trials, disappointments, and hardships come into our lives? Do we
continue praying even when answers seem delayed? Do we faithfully attend Holy
Mass and spend time listening to His words in the Bible? Or do we easily lose
hope and stop calling upon Him when life becomes difficult?
Jesus
continues to pass by in our lives. Will we, like Bartimaeus, cry out to Him
with unwavering faith and persistence until we experience His healing, mercy,
and transforming love?— Marino J. Dasmarinas
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