Sunday Gospel Reflection, October 24, 2021: Master, I want to see!

Master, I want to see…

How strong is your faith?

    The prophet Jeremiah is called by God to bring God’s message to the people during the final days of the kingdom of Judah, and his message is not generally well received or accepted. But it’s not all gloom and doom. Although he does prophesy the coming fall of Judah, he also speaks of God’s promise of future restoration: Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world. Even the blind and lame will return, and none shall stumble. Psalm 126 gives witness to the fulfillment of this promise: the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, the psalmist sings, asking, restore our fortunes, O Lord. Back from their exile, the people must restore their own land to its past prosperity, and ask God for help, trusting in God’s promise: They shall come back rejoicing.

    When, in Mark’s Gospel, the blind man Bartimaeus is told that Jesus is calling him, he too rejoices: He throws aside his cloak, springs up, and comes to Jesus immediately. Bartimaeus knows that Jesus has power; his cry, Jesus, son of David, have pity on me, is a statement of faith. Jesus has shown mercy to others, healing even another blind man at the Pool of Siloam; Bartimaeus has absolute faith and clearly articulates his request: Master, I want to see. It is a request not only for physical sight, but also for spiritual sight: Bartimaeus seeks deeper faith and will follow Jesus on the way. His sight restored, he will rejoice. Jesus’ followers are not always as strong in their faith; Jesus’ death on the cross shakes that faith severely. But as the Letter to the Hebrews explains, as the great high priest, Jesus was called by God to give his life, offering it as a sacrifice on behalf of the world, in order to fulfill God’s greatest promise of restoration: the promise of salvation, eternal life for all who believe.

    When we believe, when we have faith, God is always able to restore us, healing our spiritual blindness. Like Bartimaeus, we must take courage, leaping up to meet the Lord when he calls us, that his way – the way – may be our way as well.

This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com