Gospel Reflection Oct 24 – Deacon Paul
Sunday, October 24
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 10: 46-52
Gospel:
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.
Gospel Reflection:
Over the past few weeks, we heard of a rich young man who wanted eternal life, James and John who wanted glory, and this week, we hear about a guy who is blind, parked on the roadside and he wants only mercy.
Bartimaeus may have been physically blind, but spiritually he saw things more clearly than those who were following Jesus. For he recognized Jesus as the Messiah and knew that He had the authority and the power to heal.
When Jesus called Bartimaeus over and asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” he replied, “Master, I want to see.” Bartimaeus went from “sitting beside the road” to “following Jesus along the road.” It was his persistent faith in Jesus that was the focus of this story… a faith that can heal us and save us. Bartimaeus’ story should be our story. We should be so desperate for Jesus that we chase after Him despite what others say to us. We should want to be with God so much that we don’t allow any obstacles to be in our way.
And so, what will it be? Are you ‘blind’ to God’s Kingdom? Have you lost your vision? Will you be in the dark or will you cry out, spring up, and follow Jesus leaving the darkness of the past for the brightness of a new tomorrow in fellowship with our Lord and Savior? Friends, Jesus is calling you…now, this day. Let us say “yes” and be prepared to follow him, no matter where he would have us go!!
-Deacon Paul Zemanek