The Introduction
At Mass today, I brought with me a long list of prayer intentions. I have friends who are out of work or who hate the jobs they have. I know people who are depressed, sick, or lonely; lots and lots of people who wish their lives were different than what they are. Sometimes I want to call out, like the man at the side of the road: “Jesus, have pity! Have pity!”
And Jesus is calling back, “What can I do for you?” I don’t always know. What’s best for all my suffering friends? The right job or the right relationship may not be enough. Happiness doesn’t arrive in the neat packages we expect. Bartimaeus was sure of what he wanted, and he had the courage and strength to spring up and run to Jesus. Maybe his response is the best one, and the only one we need: “I want to see”. If each of us could clearly see we might not be so regularly paralysed by the events in our lives. We might spend less time frozen to the diving board, and more time in the water.
Which aspects of your life are unclear to you? Where is Jesus calling you to be right now?
Seek a clear vision. Pray more faithfully. Ask for advice from someone you trust. Read the Scriptures. Make retreat or reflection time a normal part of your routine.
The Scripture (Mark 10: 49-52)
Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over”. They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see”. “On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you”. In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.
The Story – Keeping in Touch
The great journalist A. J. Liebling was a boxing fan and once wrote about a boxer who fought under the name of Pete Herman. Liebling had seen one of Herman’s last bouts, when the fighter was nearly blind but not admitting it. Herman fought, Liebling wrote, “by a system of feint and touch”. As long as he was in some kind of physical contact with his opponent, he would get his bearings and could be devastating. When he wasn’t, though, he was basically at the mercy of his adversary.
Because of his vision loss, which soon became total and forced him into retirement, Herman developed extraordinary abilities. He couldn’t always see a punch coming, but as long as he was in touch with his opposite number he could anticipate the other fighter’s moves, leads, dodge, and counterpunch, reading the other man’s body “as a touch typist knows where the letters are on a keyboard”.
Bartimaeus could have been Pete Herman’s patron saint. Though physically blind, Bartimaeus had the ability to see – namely that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah – and his insistence on contact with Christ gave him not only his sight but also the discernment to follow Jesus’ way.
The Reflection
The comic character Mr Magoo is funny because he is short-sighted, though in real life he would be a tragic person. He walks across crocodiles thinking they are logs. He steps out of a window in high-rise apartments just as the window cleaner’s hoist reaches the window. He steps off the side of a pier as a boat pulls level alongside. He does not come to harm but he often leaves a trail of chaos and disaster behind him.
Can we see what is happening around us, to our communities and the way we are shaping the future? Or are we content to leave it in the hands of those who are blind to many of the finer things of life? If we allow the blind to lead us, will we not both fall into the ditch? It is of extreme importance that we make sure we are led by people of vision. It is no use having a quick fix or a laugh now if we are destroying our future. Pray for vision for yourself and for others.
The Commissioning
Open your eyes; rejoice in the glory of God’s creation! Open your eyes; rejoice in the friendships you have made and can make! Open your eyes; rejoice in the community who supports you and who is with you! Open your eyes; rejoice in the challenges of the week that lies ahead of you!
We are wide eyed, waiting in joy and in hope! Amen.
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