Gospel: Maek 10: 46-52
They came to Jericho. As Jesus 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.
GUIDELINES TO HELP US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE SO AS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GOD’S PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES AND WORLD TODAY.
(prepared by volunteers from the Lectio Centre project)
1.‘Let me see again’
Call to mind someone who longed “to see again”, to see life with new eyes: someone living daily gripped in the darkness of depression, fear, or suffering from poor mental health. Remember how they ‘cried out’ as they sat on the roadside of life, unable to see their way in their darkness. Think of the Jesus people who heard their cry and helped ‘make them well’: a family member, friend, doctor, counsellor. Give thanks for those who help the increasing number of people in our society suffering mental health issues, and longing to see the world through different eyes.
2.‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’
Put yourself in Bartimaeus’ shoes; can you feel the excitement and hope stirring your blood when you realise that He cares for you? Now recall a time when you were Bartimaeus, really struggling with life and all the pain that goes with it at times. Remember the “Jesus” person who responded to you in the voice of a loving member of your family or a friend or maybe even through a chat with a neighbour? Remember how their care stirred up feelings of excitement and new hope?
Jesus, when you said that you ‘would always be with us, even to the end of time’, you meant every word. Now other people are your hands and your caring heart, bringing love and hope to the suffering. Thank you for standing at my side
3.‘Go; your faith has made you well.’
The first person Bartimaeus saw when his eyes opened was Jesus; so it is with us when we are given hope and love just when we need it – we are looking at the face of Jesus at that time! This friend, nurse, teacher, colleague or speaker is a living part of the body of Christ, come to bring new life to us. Think now of a particular time when after stumbling around like a blind person, seeing no way out of the mess all around, you had hope restored; you saw a new way of tackling life’s problems and, in particular, remember who it was who helped you see. Thank you, Jesus.