This Gospel passage detailing the encounter between our Lord and the blind beggar named Bartimaeus is incredibly powerful, because it resonates deep within our hearts.   Because truth be told, the struggle of Bartimaeus is not much different than our own struggles at any given time in our lives.  Bartimaeus realizes that parts of his life are broken; yet he alone does not have the power to heal himself.  He sits on the sidelines of life waiting in darkness. He wants desperately to change, to be healed, to find Jesus, to overcome his suffering – but does not know how.

Struggling in the darkness, filled with despair, hoping to find Jesus; perhaps some of us seem to be in this same situation. If so, take great hope in Bartimaeus who shows us the way! Despite the negative voices telling him to be quiet, with trust and courage Bartimaeus calls out:  Son of David, have pity on me!  And when our does calls to him, Bartimaeus does not waste a moment when he hears those words: “Take courage, get up, Jesus is calling you.” 

We are told he springs up and runs to Jesus leaving his cloak behind – maybe his only possession. And there before the Son of God, a lifetime of prayer is answered, and our Lord heals Bartimaeus. Of course, we know that we will not always get exactly what we pray for from Jesus. It is all part of the mystery of suffering; and we call out to God to help us understand, to help us make sense of it, to help us truly see. 

We must remember that it was not simply meeting Jesus that gave Bartimaeus his sight. It was Bartimaeus having the faith to seek Jesus in the first place, and having the courage to meet Jesus halfway, despite his struggles and despite the negative voices in the crowd.  And – so it is for us.  

Most of us are not physically blind as Bartimaeus, but often we are afflicted with our own form of blindness. There are things we cannot see, other things we refuse to see, and blind spots in our lives of which we are not even aware.  Some of us only see what we want to see.   Whatever darkness clouds our vision, whatever struggles weigh down our hearts, we cannot let our blindness or our fear — distract us from seeking Christ.  But we must be willing to take a risk and like Bartimaeus – run to the Lord, and meet our Lord halfway.  

By God’s grace and a courageous faith, the blind beggar Bartimaeus made that great leap from sitting destitute along the roadside, to following Christ along the Way. May our merciful Lord open our eyes and the eyes of our hearts, so that we too may take courage, get up, hear the voice of Jesus calling to us, and maybe then — we can truly see.