October 27, 2024: Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
Mark 10:46-52
Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Bartimaeus’ request to Jesus to heal him stands in stark contrast to James’ and John’s request of Jesus to “sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory” in Mark 10:37 (the passage preceding today’s Gospel reading). James and John, by their request to sit “in glory” showed they didn’t really see what Jesus was all about. After all, shortly after this encounter, Jesus began his journey to Jerusalem where he was tortured and crucified. Certainly not the glory James and John envisioned.
Because what did Bartimaeus do after his sight was restored? He started to follow Jesus. He wasn’t looking for glory like James and John, he just wanted to be with Jesus. Bartimaeus, unlike James and John, “saw” what Jesus was all about, which Jesus indicated by saying, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10: 43b).
What are the blinders we have in our own lives that keep us from seeing that to follow Jesus is the Way of the Cross? And the way of the cross is to live a life of humility, service and love, not ambition or selfishness. Following Jesus requires great strength, fortitude and grace, because the values of service and love are internally directed and not externally driven. To follow Jesus means that we, like Bartimaeus, make choices reflective of our faith, and request to be healed of anything that prevents us from seeing Him as he truly is.