Jesus has come to destroy all the enemies of our fullness of life with God, and restore humanity’s trust in the love of the Father, which Adam and Eve had rejected. But he respects our freedom and waits for us to ask in trust, to open ourselves in trust to his grace and power, and to receive in trust all that he longs to give us.
Bartimaeus is a blind beggar. His physical eyes see no light; but his eyes of faith see clearly that Jesus is the Promised One, the one who will reestablish the Davidic Kingdom, the Messiah, his only hope. So he cries out for help, even as others tell him to stop, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” His trusting faith is the source of his persistence. And Love stops for him and calls him. In response, Bartimaeus throws off the one thing that belongs to him, the only protection he has, the one thing he can depend on – his cloak – and allows himself to be led to Jesus. Jesus asks him what he wants and listens to his desire. “Master, I want to see,” Bartimaeus says simply, in confident faith. And with a word from the Lord, he can see.
What Bartimaeus does next is the key to understanding the whole story. On receiving his sight, we are told, Bartimaeus “followed him on the way.” When faith is engaged, when we trust fully, when our eyes are opened, we must follow the Lord.
Where do we need Christ’s healing in our lives, our minds, our hearts? Where is our faith weak, our trust flailing, our eyes clouded? What do we need to lift up in trusting faith to Love’s powerful gaze? What cloak of self-sufficiency do we cling to, that might be holding us back from a blind confidence in God’s loving Providence? How willing are we to throw it aside to be led to Christ?
Lord, fill us with the same trusting faith in Your Love that Bartimaeus had, and give us the courage to cry out to You with our needs, knowing that You are the One Who can do all things!
Jesús vino a destruir a todos los enemigos de la plenitud de la vida con Dios y a restaurar la confianza de la humanidad en el amor del Padre, que Adán y Eva habían rechazado. Pero Él respeta nuestra libertad y espera que pidamos con confianza, que nos abramos con confianza a Su gracia y poder y que recibamos con confianza todo lo que anhela darnos.
Bartimeo es un mendigo ciego. Sus ojos físicos no ven luz; pero sus ojos de fe ven claramente que Jesús es el Prometido, el que restablecerá el Reino de David, el Mesías, su única esperanza. Por eso clama por ayuda, incluso cuando otros le dicen que se detenga: “¡Jesús, hijo de David, ten compasión de mí!” Su fe confiada es la fuente de su persistencia. Y el Amor se detiene por él y lo llama. En respuesta, Bartimeo arroja lo único que le pertenece, la única protección que tiene, lo único en lo que puede confiar -su manto- y se deja llevar hacia Jesús. Jesús le pregunta qué quiere y escucha su deseo. “Maestro, que pueda ver”, dice Bartimeo con sencillez y confianza. Y con una palabra del Señor, puede ver.
Lo que Bartimeo hace a continuación es la clave para entender toda la historia. Al recibir la vista, se nos dice que Bartimeo “comenzó a seguirlo por el camino”. Cuando la fe está comprometida, cuando confiamos plenamente, cuando los ojos se nos abren, debemos seguir al Señor.
¿Dónde necesitamos la sanación de Cristo en nuestras vidas, mentes, y corazones? ¿Dónde está débil nuestra fe, la confianza tambaleándose, los ojos nublados? ¿Qué necesitamos elevar con fe confiada a la mirada poderosa del Amor? ¿A qué manto de autosuficiencia nos aferramos, que podría estar impidiéndonos tener una confianza ciega en la Providencia amorosa de Dios? ¿Hasta qué punto estamos dispuestos a dejarlo de lado para ser guiados por Cristo?
Señor, llénanos con la misma fe confiada en Tu Amor que tenía Bartimeo, y danos el valor de clamarte con nuestras necesidades, sabiendo que Tú eres el Único que puede hacer todas las cosas.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Samuel H. Kress Foundation, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/the-healing-of-blind-bartimaeus-1229/