Bartimaeus, the blind beggar in the Gospels, articulates his desire. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asks the blind man sitting by the roadside. Lord, I want to see, says Bartimaeus.
Why does Jesus ask Bartimaeus a seemingly idiotic question? After all, Jesus knew that the man was blind! For one thing, Jesus may have wanted to offer him the freedom to ask, to give the man the dignity of choice, rather than simply healing him straightaway. For another, Jesus knew that recognizing our desires means recognizing God’s desires for us. Jesus may have asked Bartimaeus what he wanted because our longings help us learn something about who we are. It’s so freeing to say, This is what I desire in life. Naming our desires may also make us more grateful when we receive the fulfillment of our hopes.
We can glimpse God’s invitation even in the faintest trace of desire.
--Fr. James Martin
Image source: https://winkofaneye.me/2018/02/26/are-you-ready-to-testify-master-i-want-to-see/
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