The Sight of the Blind Man

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty Ninth Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Mk 10:46-52*

*First Reading : Jer 31:7-9*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6*

*Second Reading - Heb 5:1-6*

*The Sight of the Blind Man*

*1) The extraordinary Character of Bartimaeus*

The Gospel of the day has the special character, who is called as Bartimaeus, a blind man

In other Words, the blind man, sounds like his surname. Usually all of us have surnames 

In this context, it is better to ask this question:  Was Bartimaeus really a blind man? 

Let us answer this Question in the Following way 

*2) The Sight of Hope*

Bartimaeus, the blind man has no physical eyesight

But he had deeper insight and deeper spiritual sight

One Such deeper sight was, the sight of Hope 

He never lost the sight of hope. He was hopeful that One day or the other things will be alight

This sight of hope became true when he met Jesus 

*3) The Sight of Courage*

This is the another level of sight Bartimaeus, the blind man had 

Many people shouted at him, threatened him to be silent 

But he was not frightened. He was courageous. He shouted all the more 

His sight of courage was so powerful which helped him to encounter Jesus 

*4) The sight of Confidence*

Bartimaeus,  the blind man, never lost the confidence he had on himself and on Jesus 

There was nothing favorable to him. No situation positively favoured him. But at the same time he never lost His confidence

Finally the sight of confidence shows the way to Jesus 

*5) The Sight of Patience*

Bartimaeus, the blind man, had great sight of patience

He could see, understand and practice the virtue of patience, inspite of his physical blindness 

The sight of patience never disappoint any one, but shows the right way to the right person. 

This is what we see in Bartimaeus

*6) The Sight Deep Faith*

Bartimaeus, the blind man, had a deep sight of faith. 

His sight of faith was far superior than all of us 

This sight of faith, could help him to see who Jesus really is? what his identity is? What his power is? 

This sight of Bartimaeus can't be compared with any other sight 

*7) The sight of Inner Strength*

Bartimaeus, the blind man, had stronger sight of inner strength 

One who has inner, can face anything in life 

The sight of inner strength of Bartimaeus, helped him to face all the adverse situations in a positive way 

The sight of inner strength of Bartimaeus, never disappointed him, but brought him to Jesus 

*8) The Sight of Proclamation*

Bartimaeus, the blind man's sight to see the real identity of Jesus and to proclaim to the rest of the crowd was tremendous 

*"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”* was the real identity of Jesus, which was revealed to the rest of the crowd by so called, Bartimaeus, the blind man, the son of Timaeus

The proclamation of  Bartimaeus, should really challenge us to check our sight in knowing and proclaiming Jesus 

*9) The Physical eyesight*

Finally, Bartimaeus, the blind man, the son of Timaeus, is there in front of Jesus 

He didn't have physical eyesight, but then he reached exactly where Jesus was 

He could not see Jesus through his physical eyes but, could experience who Jesus was 

His inner sight, spiritual sight, and deeper insight, actualizes in the physical eyesight, when Jesus gives him the physical eyesight

What a wonderful even which moves from spiritual sight to the physical sight 

That is the real faith 

We are moving from physical eyesight to spiritual eyesight 

Bartimaeus, a blind man, starts from spiritual sight and then comes to physical eyesight 

Which is good and better for me?? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*