The blind Bartimaeus

AS Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

REFLECTION

HE THREW ASIDE HIS CLOAK. Earlier (Mk 10:17-27), we met the most promising candidate for discipleship—and he failed. Today Mark presents us the most unlikely candidate—and he passes with flying colors. Bartimaeus is a blind beggar, dependent on alms from generous travelers! When called by Jesus, Bartimaeus throws aside his cloak. According to law and tradition, one cannot take away the cloak from another person in payment of the latter’s debt. The cloak is necessary to survive the heat of the sun during the day and the cold of the night. While the rich man could not detach himself from his possessions, this beggar is ready to give up even his precious cloak in order to follow Jesus! And Mark adds that, upon receiving his sight, Bartimaeus follows Jesus “on the way.” From yesterday’s Gospel, we know that Jesus is on his way to the cross. Bartimaeus becomes the perfect disciple, ready to give up everything to follow the Lord. And “the way” was, according to the Acts of the Apostles, how the early Church called what we now call Christianity. When we go to Jesus in prayer, we usually ask for something. Are we also ready to tell him, “Lord, take all I have — if only I can be with you”? Only a profound love for Jesus can make us utter such a prayer.

Bartimaeus “began with need, went on to gratitude, and finished with loyalty — and that is a perfect summary of the stages of discipleship” (William Barclay).