Sunday's Gospel is the story of Jesus' cure of Bartimaeus. The Jewish theology of Jesus' day held that physical ailments and disabilities were punishment for sin, either of the afflicted one or their parents or even ancestors. They were considered judged by God and condemned and treated like public sinners, often disowned by family, thrown out of town and forced to live in the cemeteries and dumps and begging for the necessities. This is where we find Bartimaeus. He's heard stories about Jesus and when he hears that he is passing by, he begins to yell for help. He has nothing to lose and yells louder.
Jesus stops and calls for him. He asks the blind man what it is he wants and he answers, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus knows what he wants and needs but he wants Bartimaeus to name it and own it and thereby to acknowledge Jesus as Lord with the power to heal and to forgive. He not only wants to see but to live in community with others, free of crippling guilt. When he receives his sight, the first thing he sees is the face of Jesus.
As we pray this scene, we hear Jesus ask us, "What do you want me to do for you?" How do we answer? What do we most deeply want and need so that we can follow Jesus more lovingly?
Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.
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