Thursday, October 25, 2012

Master, I want to see...


God’s mercy is a challenge to our vision. So is faith.  Do we trust in God’s vision?  Are we open to it?

Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, spreads his cloak so that passersby can throw alms onto it; the cloak is his assurance that he will be able to gather the coins even if he can’t see them.   But when Jesus and his disciples pass by him on their way out of Jericho, what does he do?  Bartimaeus throws aside his cloak, springs up, and comes to Jesus.  Abandoning his former life, and, along with it, his dependence on the charity of the world, blind Bartimaeus makes a beeline for Jesus, confident, trusting that this man can give him what no one else has managed to:  clear vision.

I want to see.  Bartimaeus is given physical sight, but he already has faith, the ability to go toward the unknown with confidence, open to God, trusting in God’s vision rather than in his own lack thereof.  And when Jesus restores to him the freedom to choose – Go on your way; your faith has healed you – what way does he choose?  The Way that is Jesus himself:  Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way, into Jerusalem, where Jesus will show himself to be both priest and sacrifice.  And many more eyes will be opened.

Jesus is Bartimaeus’ guide; Jesus is his new cloak; 
Jesus is his deliverance and his consolation.  
Is he yours?

(Christ Healing the Blind Beggars of Jericho)
Louvre, Paris, France


This reflection is based on Fr. Pat's Thursday night Scripture class.

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