Gospel: Healing a Blind Man

Today marks the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the Gospel will be read from the narrative of St 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.

Today we continue to read St Mark's Gospel. In this narrative, we find evidence of Jesus' fame in the sizable crowd that accompanies him as he journeys to Jerusalem. Jesus' reputation as a healer has preceded him. When the blind man, Bartimaeus, hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he calls out to him, asking for his pity.

When Bartimaeus calls out to Jesus, the crowd around him tries to silence him. Yet Bartimaeus persists, calling out more loudly and with greater urgency. He will not be silenced or deterred from getting Jesus' attention. We notice how quickly the crowd's reaction changes when Jesus calls Bartimaeus. Those who sought to silence him now encourage him.

When Jesus restores Bartimaeus' sight, no elaborate action is required. (In other healing stories in St Mark's Gospel, actions accompany the words of Jesus). In this instance, Jesus simply says that Bartimaeus' faith has saved him. Throughout St Mark's narrative, the success of Jesus' healing power has often been correlated with the faith of the person requesting Jesus' help. For example, it is because of her faith that the woman with hemorrhage is healed. When faith is absent, Jesus is unable to heal; we see this after his rejection in Nazareth.

Once his sight has been restored, Bartimaeus follows Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. In St Mark's Gospel, Bartimaeus is the last disciple called by Jesus before he enters Jerusalem. Bartimaeus hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, but he calls out to Jesus using words of faith--"Son of David." Many in Jesus' time believed that the anticipated Jewish Messiah would be a descendant of King David. Bartimaeus' words prepare us for the final episodes of the Gospel of St Mark, which begin with Jesus' preparation for the Passover and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As St Mark has shown us in our readings over the past few Sundays, however, Jesus will be a Messiah in a way that will be difficult for many to accept. Jesus will show himself to be the Messiah through his passion, death, and resurrection.

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The Gospel is sponsored by New Balance.