Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
“What do you want me to do for you?”
The road to Jericho was an entryway toward Jerusalem streaming with pilgrims. Beggars sat along the way hoping for handouts. On this particular day sat blind Bartimaeus, who’s name means “son of fear.” And Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
Eighty-eight percent of Mark is found in Luke. And Mark rarely gives a person’s name unless it is significant. The name “Bartimaeus” is significant. For Mark’s community, under duress, the issue is one of faith. And it is not doubt that is the enemy of faith but rather fear. “Fear is useless,” Jesus says. “What is needed is faith” (Mark 5:36).
Upon being told that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, the blind man shouted, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus: “I want to see!”
The question, “What do you want me to do for you?” is asked on two occasions by Jesus. The other time was in response to the request of James and John to sit to the right and left of him in the Kingdom. They want to be famous. They want to have power. They want authority. Their request is self-centered.
Notice the contrast. Disciples: “We want to be seen.” Beggar: “I want to see.” Disciples: “We want a place of honor.” Beggar: “I want to be ordinary, I want to be made whole.” Disciples: “We want to rule over others.” Bartimaeus seeks no special privileges.
Bartimaeus was physically blind, but he had profound spiritual insight. He immediately received his sight and followed Jesus along the way. The apostles, in contrast, had physical eyesight but they were spiritually blind.
Beggars typically sat with their cloak spread on the ground before them to catch coins tossed by passersby. This man’s cloak is as important to his livelihood as boats are to a fisherman or a booth to a tax collector. Just as others abandoned boats and booths to follow Jesus, this man tossed aside his cloak to stand with the Son of David.
Why does Bartimaeus “throw off his coat?”
Because he leaves everything to follow Jesus to Jerusalem and the cloak was all he had. “Son of fear” no more, the former blindman is now “Son of faith.”
How do you and I respond to the question of Jesus, “What do you want me to do for you?”
-Timothy J. Cronin