REFLECTIONS TODAY
The cure of the blind Bartimaeus happens when Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. They pass by Jericho, an oasis town, where pilgrims take a pause before the ascent to the Holy City. Here, Jesus cures a blind man who cries out to him using a messianic title, “Son of David, have pity on me” (v 47). When he receives his sight, he follows Jesus on the way. This is no longer the following of Jesus in Galilee at the start of his public ministry.
This is the following of Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem, where confrontation with the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman officials awaits him, which will lead to his arrest and condemnation to death. This is “taking up the cross” to follow after Jesus. Bartimaeus needs more than physical sight to be able to follow Jesus. He needs an “inner sight,” an enlightenment to remain with Jesus in his passion and death.
We, in turn, need the light from the Holy Spirit to be able “to carry our cross” daily in terms of dying to our selfishness and self reference to see the needs of our brothers and sisters and to serve Jesus in them.
First Reading • 1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12
Beloved: Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation.
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.