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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider I was blind, but now I see

I was blind, but now I see

Published Oct 26, 2024 04:11 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Among the beloved Christian hymns is Amazing Grace, the lyrics of which include the lines, “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” We cannot help but connect these lyrics to the story of Bartimaeus who shouts loudly to Jesus and confesses his faith in him. 


As the Gospel of Mark often depicts the Apostles and the disciples as unbelieving, the figure of Bartimaeus comes as a revelation. He has not been with Jesus in his ministry yet is able to confess with conviction his messianic identity. His faith comes in stark contrast to the doubting and wavering faith of the Apostles. 


The location and timing of Bartimaeus’ story indicate something. Jesus happens to be in Jericho right before he ascends to Jerusalem. The direction toward Jerusalem indicates the looming suffering and death that he is to undergo. A blind man professes his faith in Jesus so firmly. How come it is the physically blind who is able to have faith in the Messiah about to die, while those who saw with their own eyes the miracles of Jesus are hesitant to acclaim him as the Promised One?
 

First Reading • Jer 31:7-9 
 

Thus says the Lord: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The Lord has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng. They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born.

 

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 126 
 

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” 
 

Second Reading • Heb 5:1-6 


Brothers and sisters: Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son; this day I have begotten you; just as he says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

 

Gospel • Mark 10:46-52 
 

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” 


So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” 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.

 

Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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