Light
October 24, 2021: A Reflection for the 30th Sunday of O.T., Year B
Mark 10:46-52
“What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” (Mk 10:51)
He sat there in his usual spot by the side of the road. Passersby would notice his dust-covered clothes and his cupped hands held out in begging. He was the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus to be exact, and he was almost a permanent fixture as people would shuffle by, intent on their daily business. Sometimes a few coins would be dropped into his hands and he knew he would be eating that day. “This begging gets old quickly,” he would say to himself and wish with all his heart that by some miracle he would regain his sight. Living in a world of darkness made him ache for even the tiniest ray of the light that was the privilege of others. It was a hard, rocky road that fate had laid out for him and he longed for change.
On one particular day, as he took his accustomed place and began calling out for whatever assistance someone would be inspired to give him, there seemed to be a larger crowd of people going by than usual and from what they were saying, Jesus of Nazareth, the Prophet, was among them. Bartimaeus had heard the conversations of other travelers as they passed and at the mention of the name Jesus, a spark of hope was kindled in him. In his wildest dreams, he never thought that Jesus would actually be this close to him. Could this be the Son of David who would transform his darkness into light, his pain to joy? This was his big chance!!
From his place along the dusty road he was stirred to action and began calling out to him above the din of the crowd: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” He was calling so insistently that some in the crowd told him to keep quiet. What would a Prophet want to do with this ragged beggar? He was a nuisance! Jesus had more important people to attend to, they might have thought. But that didn’t stop Bartimaeus. He called all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus stopped at the sound of his cry and said, “Call him.” Bartimaeus was beside himself with sheer joy and excitement. He jumped up, threw aside anything that was an encumbrance and scuffled over to Jesus. There he stood, poor and expectant. Something deep inside told him that this time, this man, would be different.
He could hardly believe his ears when Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Could this be? Is the son of David really placing himself at the service of a beggar like me? Could it be he really cares about ME? Without hesitation Bartimaeus pours out his deepest wish: “Master, I want to see.” Quiet trust filled him, trust born of faith. Then it happened. It was an epiphany of light. In an instant he was looking into the eyes of the man who saw him all the way down — deep down into every part of his being — and the look was one of love. The darkness with which he had become so accustomed was gone. He was resting in the gaze of mercy. And he knew he was loved, accepted, respected — and healed. What his spirit beheld with the eyes of faith when physical sight failed him, now took on human flesh in the person of Jesus. Light!! He was surrounded by light, inside and out! Everything he had heard about him was true!
He knew his response. “When the eyes of Mercy have seen into your depths and loved you,” he thought, “what other response could I have but to follow wherever his dusty footsteps lead along The Way of life.” And so it was. He walked in mercy, wherever The Light led him.