Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever been “shushed”? Ever been told to be quiet when you had something to say? Maybe you were shushed as a child when you felt the need to express yourself, or maybe as an adult you were quieted or made to feel that what you had to say wasn’t worthwhile; that you weren’t important enough or smart enough. In today’s Gospel reading (Mark 10: 46-52), we hear of the blind man, Bartimaeus, crying out to Jesus as he passed by with his disciples. Mark’s gospel tells us that many people rebuked him and told him to be silent. That sounds more polite than they probably were. I imagine people yelling for him to “shut up” or “shush” himself as this important man, Jesus, was passing by the beggar on the side of the road.
Bartimaeus was not easily “shushed” however. He repeatedly called out to Jesus, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” He finally got Jesus’ attention and was called to come to him. In Mark’s version of this story, Bartimaeus, “threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.”(vs. 50) I think the action of throwing aside his cloak is significant in reflecting on this story of healing, because once Bartimaeus comes to Jesus and tells Jesus that he wants to see, he is given sight and told that his faith has saved him.
In reflecting on this passage I found myself drawn to that image and asking myself some serious questions. What “cloak” do I need to throw aside in order to come to Jesus and be healed? Is it fear that I hold on to? Fear of more being asked of me if I come to Jesus for sight? Is it pride or, more likely, feelings of unworthiness that I hold on to, letting myself stay comfortably on the side of the road in my blindness rather than getting up and following Jesus?
Once Bartimaeus is given sight he is also given the freedom to “go your way,” and interestingly, the way he chooses is to follow Jesus – the one who has brought him out of the darkness. And sometimes that is a scary choice to make because Jesus may lead us places we’d rather not go. We remember, however, that we aren’t asked to go alone. We remember that after Jesus’ Ascension there was Pentecost, which we recently celebrated. We do have the Holy Spirit to guide us and strengthen us on whatever path Jesus leads us.
This Gospel story gives us some serious questions to reflect on. Bartimaeus was “shushed” by others who simply saw him as the blind beggar who was being a nuisance. I imagine they had no thoughts of him ever changing. Do we have hope for others, for ourselves? Are we really ready to be open to the change that comes by having faith in the healing power of God? If we ask for sight, our lives will change. Are we ready to see what Jesus is calling us to?
Today’s first reading from Sirach (42: 15-25) offers a beautiful contemplation of God’s power, beauty and goodness as manifested in nature/ all of creation. It inspires me to thank and praise God for that goodness and to pray for the sight to see God’s goodness not only in nature, but also in myself and in every person I encounter.
God is calling us to more. Like Bartimaeus, let us keep calling out to Jesus and throw off whatever is keeping us from “springing up” and coming to Him.
- Eileen Miller