What descriptive word would go in front of your name forever? It struck me today that poor Bartimaeus would be referred to as Blind Bartimaeus for all of time and yet there are many other adjectives that could be used for him.
BOLD Bartimaeus.
The gospel says that he merely heard that Jesus was near and started crying out, not just his name, but the title indicating that he was indeed the Messiah, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” How bold for this blind beggar to risk his life with one courageous sentence. What did he have to lose? I must ask myself the same question, what do I have to lose by crying out to God with the boldness of Bartimaeus? He kept shouting knowing that eventually The Christ would hear, not his name, but the proclamation that he is Messiah. In fact, that is exactly what prompted the apostles to try and shut him up. They were not ready for the scandal yet. Bold Bartimaeus was not affected by their attempts and his persistence caught Jesus’ attention.
BRAVE Bartimaeus
Bartimaeus kept yelling even when people were actively trying to silence him. I know I am not this brave, one shush from a stranger and my lips are sealed. Bartimaus’ next move took some guts as well. He ditched his cloak, his only earthly possession, knowing that he would literally never see it again, “sprang up”, and did a blind sprint toward Jesus. This sounds like some sort of youth group game to me when I would blindfold them and tell them to sprint across the room. It’s almost comical, however, Brave Bartimaeus knew that he needed to get to the Messiah and he was willing to do anything to make that happen. I know I need to get to the Messiah, but am I willing to do anything? I’m not sure I’m that brave yet.
BEAUTIFUL Bartimaeus
Bartimaeus knew what Jesus was capable of and so he asked for it. How often do we think we don’t deserve something or are unworthy to receive the gifts that Jesus wants to give us, but we feel ashamed to ask Him. Beautiful Bartimaeus shows us that we ARE worthy and that Jesus wants us to come to Him, immediately, boldly, and just as we are. Beautiful Bartimaeus gives us a perfect prayer that I know I need to plead for daily, “I want to see.” Now, of course, Blind Bartimaeus was asking for physical sight, but we all know that spiritual sight is exactly what Jesus restored and He resolutely wants to restore that same kind of sight in each one of us. When we see with the eyes of our heart, then we will see just how beautiful we are because we were made in pure love.
BELOVED Bartimaeus
He asked to see and Jesus delivered because He was in love with Bartimaeus. He’s in love with you and He’s in love with me. He’s in love because He is love and love begets love. Therefore, we are His Beloved. It’s a concept that stumps me every day, but Bold, Brave, Beautiful Bartimaeus gets that he is Beloved. He gets it and because he truly believes it, Jesus proclaims, “Go your way; your faith has saved you." Bartimaeus could have gone in another direction because Jesus gives him the option to “Go YOUR way.” Once Blind Bartimaeus can see, he chose “His way” immediately “followed Him on The Way.” I want to have this kind of faith so that I too will immediately follow Him on The Way and know that His way is my way. Understanding my belovedness gives me the faith to see exactly where He is leading me and the courage to follow.
I wonder what adjective(s) would go in front of my name for eternity in regards to my faith life? Valiant? Courageous? Radiant? Favored? It’s something for us all to think about today. Let’s try to be bold, brave, beautiful, and beloved and pray the two perfect prayers that Blind Bartimaeus gives us, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me” and “I want to see.” It is well with my soul.
Reading 1 1 MC 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63
[From the descendants of Alexander's officers]
there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,
son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.
He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven
of the kingdom of the Greeks.
In those days there appeared in Israel
men who were breakers of the law,
and they seduced many people, saying:
"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
The proposal was agreeable;
some from among the people promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to introduce the way of living
of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem
according to the Gentile custom.
They covered over the mark of their circumcision
and abandoned the holy covenant;
they allied themselves with the Gentiles
and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
each abandoning his particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;
they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-five,
the king erected the horrible abomination
upon the altar of burnt offerings
and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,
and whoever observed the law,
was condemned to death by royal decree.
But many in Israel were determined
and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food
or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
Terrible affliction was upon Israel.
there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes,
son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome.
He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven
of the kingdom of the Greeks.
In those days there appeared in Israel
men who were breakers of the law,
and they seduced many people, saying:
"Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us."
The proposal was agreeable;
some from among the people promptly went to the king,
and he authorized them to introduce the way of living
of the Gentiles.
Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem
according to the Gentile custom.
They covered over the mark of their circumcision
and abandoned the holy covenant;
they allied themselves with the Gentiles
and sold themselves to wrongdoing.
Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,
each abandoning his particular customs.
All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king,
and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion;
they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.
On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-five,
the king erected the horrible abomination
upon the altar of burnt offerings
and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars.
They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.
Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt.
Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant,
and whoever observed the law,
was condemned to death by royal decree.
But many in Israel were determined
and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean;
they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food
or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.
Terrible affliction was upon Israel.
Responsorial Psalm PS 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158
R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may keep your precepts.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I am attacked by malicious persecutors
who are far from your law.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Far from sinners is salvation,
because they seek not your statutes.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
I beheld the apostates with loathing,
because they kept not to your promise.
R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Alleluia JN 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LK 18:35-43
As Jesus approached Jericho
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him,
"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;
and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
"What do you want me to do for you?"
He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
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