The healing of the Blind Man
The healing of the Blind Man
Gospel Mark 10:46-52
Reflection 1
Have Mercy on Me: The Most Repeated Phrase in Our Prayers
This is the fourth and final miracle in Jesus' journey toward the cross. Today Bartimaeus the blind man of Jericho invites us to take a qualitative leap with him towards Christ and remind us of the story of faith of each one of us.
Bartimaeus was sitting on the road begging. It seems that he was despised by the society, like all those afflicted with diseases such as leprosy and blindness, in whom the Jews saw punishment from God for an act of sin that had been committed either by the person himself or by his parents. This was the Jewish thought about the relationship between illness and sin Bartimaeus was seen first as a sinful man who was afflicted with a disability because of his sins.
Today’s miracle highlights the blindness embedded in our minds and our hardened hearts, which can hinder God working in us.
“Jesus, Son of David”
Bartimaeus did not shout, “Jesus of Nazareth,” but rather, “Jesus, Son of David.” This is a title of faith. A title of recognition. Bartimaeus believed that Jesus Christ is the awaited Messiah.
“Have mercy on me” is our prayer too
Bartimaeus was crying out, Jesus, Son of David, “Have mercy on me.” He did not ask the Lord to heal him from his blindness.
This is what we do in our prayers, always crying out for mercy. “Have mercy on me” is the most frequently used and repeated phrase in our prayers.
He followed Jesus
The Lord Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man, but more importantly, his spiritual insight was opened and he followed Jesus.
This miracle was like a judgment for the Jews who saw the miracles of the Lord every day and did not believe in Him as the expected Messiah.
Their physical eyes could see, but their hearts were hardened and were unable to see. Therefore, the words of the Bible were true of them: “Pay attention to this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes and do not see, who have ears and do not hear.”
Jeramiah 5:21
The voice of the blind man’s heart cried out while the voice of the world wanted to silence it.
However, his determination and faith made his voice louder than the shouts of the world and the attempt of many to keep him quiet.
Those who dwell in the world but do not belong to it, their voices resonate as truth that no multitude can silence.
A thought for the week
True blindness is not merely a lack of physical sight, but rather an inner blindness—the inability to perceive the truth that humanity must earnestly seek to know.
Reflection 2
The prayer of Bartimaeus
Today’s miracle highlights the blindness embedded in our minds and our hardened hearts, which can hinder God working in us.
In today’s Gospel, Bartimaeus the beggar was sitting at the gate of the city of Jericho. He didn’t hesitate to call out to Jesus for help. However, unlike many of the other beggars of his day, he wasn’t asking for food or money but for his sight to be restored.
Jesus stopped after hearing His call: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This very beautiful prayer shows the great faith of Bartimaeus.
Bartimaeus did not call Jesus Rabbi, Teacher, Lord, or any of the other titles used by the apostles. Instead, he used the title: “Son of David.” This is a title of faith. A title of recognition. By this name, the blind man saw what many of those around him were blind to: Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One. “Have mercy on me,” has become the prayer of all who look to God for help.
A thought for the week
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! “This was Bartimaeus’ prayer. “What is my prayer?”
The prayer of the theologian Michel de Verteuil
“Lord, there are many people sitting at the side of the road, shouting to us to have pity on them, but they often shout in strange ways: by behaving badly in the classroom; by taking drugs and alcohol; by sulking, remaining silent or locked up in their rooms; sometimes by insisting that they are happy to be at the side of the road while others pass by. Lord, like Jesus, we need to stop all that we are doing so that we can hear them express their deep longing to have their sight restored to them.”
The Lord of Light and Goodness
We praise you Lord of Light and Goodness. Your forgiveness and your peace make us pass from darkness to light. Let each day find us ready to follow you. Let our whole life announce the love which you offer to all people, and may everyone see the joy with which you light up our lives. Gwen Simon
I wish our repentance was like his repentance and our cry was like his cry
“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.” St. Augustine of Hippo
Gospel Mark 10:46-52
Reflection 1
Have Mercy on Me: The Most Repeated Phrase in Our Prayers
This is the fourth and final miracle in Jesus' journey toward the cross. Today Bartimaeus the blind man of Jericho invites us to take a qualitative leap with him towards Christ and remind us of the story of faith of each one of us.
Bartimaeus was sitting on the road begging. It seems that he was despised by the society, like all those afflicted with diseases such as leprosy and blindness, in whom the Jews saw punishment from God for an act of sin that had been committed either by the person himself or by his parents. This was the Jewish thought about the relationship between illness and sin Bartimaeus was seen first as a sinful man who was afflicted with a disability because of his sins.
Today’s miracle highlights the blindness embedded in our minds and our hardened hearts, which can hinder God working in us.
“Jesus, Son of David”
Bartimaeus did not shout, “Jesus of Nazareth,” but rather, “Jesus, Son of David.” This is a title of faith. A title of recognition. Bartimaeus believed that Jesus Christ is the awaited Messiah.
“Have mercy on me” is our prayer too
Bartimaeus was crying out, Jesus, Son of David, “Have mercy on me.” He did not ask the Lord to heal him from his blindness.
This is what we do in our prayers, always crying out for mercy. “Have mercy on me” is the most frequently used and repeated phrase in our prayers.
He followed Jesus
The Lord Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man, but more importantly, his spiritual insight was opened and he followed Jesus.
This miracle was like a judgment for the Jews who saw the miracles of the Lord every day and did not believe in Him as the expected Messiah.
Their physical eyes could see, but their hearts were hardened and were unable to see. Therefore, the words of the Bible were true of them: “Pay attention to this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes and do not see, who have ears and do not hear.”
Jeramiah 5:21
The voice of the blind man’s heart cried out while the voice of the world wanted to silence it.
However, his determination and faith made his voice louder than the shouts of the world and the attempt of many to keep him quiet.
Those who dwell in the world but do not belong to it, their voices resonate as truth that no multitude can silence.
A thought for the week
True blindness is not merely a lack of physical sight, but rather an inner blindness—the inability to perceive the truth that humanity must earnestly seek to know.
Reflection 2
The prayer of Bartimaeus
Today’s miracle highlights the blindness embedded in our minds and our hardened hearts, which can hinder God working in us.
In today’s Gospel, Bartimaeus the beggar was sitting at the gate of the city of Jericho. He didn’t hesitate to call out to Jesus for help. However, unlike many of the other beggars of his day, he wasn’t asking for food or money but for his sight to be restored.
Jesus stopped after hearing His call: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This very beautiful prayer shows the great faith of Bartimaeus.
Bartimaeus did not call Jesus Rabbi, Teacher, Lord, or any of the other titles used by the apostles. Instead, he used the title: “Son of David.” This is a title of faith. A title of recognition. By this name, the blind man saw what many of those around him were blind to: Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One. “Have mercy on me,” has become the prayer of all who look to God for help.
A thought for the week
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! “This was Bartimaeus’ prayer. “What is my prayer?”
The prayer of the theologian Michel de Verteuil
“Lord, there are many people sitting at the side of the road, shouting to us to have pity on them, but they often shout in strange ways: by behaving badly in the classroom; by taking drugs and alcohol; by sulking, remaining silent or locked up in their rooms; sometimes by insisting that they are happy to be at the side of the road while others pass by. Lord, like Jesus, we need to stop all that we are doing so that we can hear them express their deep longing to have their sight restored to them.”
The Lord of Light and Goodness
We praise you Lord of Light and Goodness. Your forgiveness and your peace make us pass from darkness to light. Let each day find us ready to follow you. Let our whole life announce the love which you offer to all people, and may everyone see the joy with which you light up our lives. Gwen Simon
I wish our repentance was like his repentance and our cry was like his cry
“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent, you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you. I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.” St. Augustine of Hippo