Reflection for May 30 Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 10:46-52

Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."  

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.

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Reflection:

Is the blind man Bartimaeus desperately seeking Jesus? Desperation is an understatement because he is seeking Jesus with all of his might. This is because he knows the real identity of Jesus. Bartimaeus knows that only Jesus can cure his physical blindness. However, Bartimaeus' physical blindness did not prevent him from uncovering the true identity of Jesus. Why? Because Bartimaeus has the eyes of faith that many of us do not have yet.

Through his eyes of faith Bartimaeus saw the real identity of Jesus. Through the eyes of faith Bartimaeus discovered that it is only Jesus who can cure his physical blindness.  This is the reason why he mightily shouted to get the attention of Jesus when He passed by him.  

The eyes of faith of this blind man did not fail him for he was noticed and soon after called by Jesus. And right there while face to face with Jesus he was asked by the Lord: "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus said, Master, I want to see. And at that very moment his physical blindness was cured by Jesus.  

How about us? Do we have these eyes of faith of Bartimaeus? Let us reflect upon this for we may be able to see physically yet we are still blind spiritually. Let us therefore seek the Lord more, so that we would also have Bartimaeus eyes of faith. – Marino J. Dasmarinas