Where is You Blindness?

 

~~~ Sirach 42:15-25 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ Mark 10:46-52 ~~~

 

 

Yesterday we heard two of the apostles asking Jesus to do whatever the wanted.

‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”

 

Today we hear from Bartimaeus...calling out to Jesus,

 crouched beside the road.

Being blind, he is intently listening for Jesus to be near

his lowly position on the ground.

When Jesus walks closer he begins to loudly call out...

 

“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”

 

Blind, waiting, and determined to get the attention of Jesus.

The people are crowded around Jesus, moving him along,

 yet he does hear the cry of this blind man.

 

Of course the apostles see and hear this man a nuisance,

 but Jesus hears and sees him as a person in need of healing.

 

The apostles call the man to come before Jesus, as requested.

“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”

 

The apostles are telling this poor blind man to take courage.

When Jesus calls you it often does require courage.

When Jesus calls you it is always a call to change.

You cannot truly hear the call from Jesus unless you are willing to change.

 

Initially the blind man thought Jesus might take pity on him

 because he of his blindness;

but instead he was called to be courageous.

Once Bartimaeus could see his life in courage he springs forth from the dirt.

He throws his cloak of hiding off and stands up to meet Jesus.

This vision inspires me to have higher aspirations.

 

 

 Once Jesus hears; he directs his attention to Bartimaeus saying,

 “What do you want me to do for you?” 

 

 Jesus restores sight to Bartimaeus following his own display of courage.

Bartimaeus was willing to stand up and come to Jesus.

 

We too suffer from blindness in our life;

perhaps it is not physical blindness, but we do not see clearly.

 I dare say we may even choose blindness in some cases.

We do not want to see much that is around us.

 

Bartimaeus was not a person of importance;

he was not one of those followers of Jesus.

 Bartimaeus was a man who had faith.

It was his faith that ultimately saved him 

 

Bartimaeus states his request for healing directly, clearly, and precisely.

Sometimes I think our prayers may be too vague.

We should speak in prayer of our precise desires,

knowing of course that we surrender to the will of God.

 

The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.  

 

Lord, show me where I am blind so that I may seek your healing presence.

Blessings waiting for us in our darkness.

Jesus, is Real

~~~ Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 ~~~ Psalm 115 ~~~ Matthew 9: 32-38 ~~~

"...Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd..."

When the Olympic games are hosted in the US the official torch is lit and carried by runners throughout the country. The event is publicized and crowds of people come out to witness this moving event. There are interviews from those selected to carry the torch. The media devote prime time coverage of the event. For some reason this run creates a sense of pride and a sense of wel-being for our country.

Jesus was not carrying a special lit torch, but he too was moving through towns and villages. He was teaching in the synagogues not giving interviews.

He was reaching out to those who came to watch and listen.

There were no reporters making announcements about his arrival time

or the route he would take. Yet people found him and they told others

to come and see what this man called Jesus could do.

When the torch runner passes by the crowds along the street he or she

most likely feels honored to have been asked to carry this 

symbol of the international games.

When Jesus passed by and saw the crowds he was looking at more

than just their faces. He was looking at their hearts too.

As he was going about his father's business of healing

his heart was moved with pity.

Pity...a sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy.

Jesus was expressing his feelings of sympathy for these poor people.

His capacity for empathy was far beyond what we could ever hope to attain. 

Jesus could see the many who felt abandoned by others.

He could see those who had troubled hearts and minds.

Jesus realized that as only one person it was physically impossible for him

to get to all those who needed his healing touch.

Perhaps he was even a tad frustrated by his physical limitations.

On some occasions his compassion reached out beyond

those in his immediate presence.

Thinking of Jesus as an example of the highest human compassion

gives us something to emulate...to strive toward.

Jesus was a real human person not an idol created out of cold lifeless metal.

He was quite the opposite of the idol images that...

"...They have mouths but speak not;
they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
they have noses but smell not.
They have hands but feel not;
they have feet but walk not.
Their makers shall be like them,
everyone that trusts in them..."

Jesus was comparing himself by his words, deeds, and pity to their lifeless idols.

The false idols they had built would never be able to do

what he could do for the them.

He was the real thing!

Jesus could speak, see, hear, smell, feel, and walk.

Jesus could love from the depths of his being.

It was his love for others that drew people to follow him.

It was his compassion for the troubled that drew people to crowd along

 the streets to wait for him.

He was flesh and blood...he could reach out and touch a soul in need.

Hold on to these stories of Jesus reaching out to those in need of his healing touch.

It is just these stories that will keep your faith alive.

Jesus is the real thing..there is no other like him!