Daily Catholic Lectio
Thu, 30 May 2024
Eighth Week in Ordinary Time – Thursday
1 Peter 2:2-5, 9-12. Mark 10:46-52
Inner vision
He found the Akshaya Patra of his life, he threw off his begging bowl.
The miracle of the healing of Bartimaeus follows Jesus’ third prediction. In light of the passion predictions, this narrative could be understood as a parable as well. The blind Bartimaeus was able to identify Jesus as the Son of David, while the disciples who were able to see Jesus could not identify him.
(1) Bartimaeus knew what he wanted
Bartimaeus knew his condition, and he was sure of what he wanted. When he realised that Jesus was passing him by, he wanted to make the most of it. He did not want to let God pass by. He knew that when God passes by, there would be a miracle. He sought the attention of Jesus by crying out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ The cry was responded to by Jesus.
(2) He ignored the rebuke of the crowd
In the gospel of Mark, ‘crowd’ is both an obstacle and an opportunity for discipleship. Here is an obstacle in the beginning and an opportunity in the end. When the crowd rebuked Bartimaeus, he turned a deaf ear to it, for he knew about the crowd, which is fickle-minded. The crowd that rebuked him later came to him, saying, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
(3) He threw off his cloak
Mark is an excellent storyteller. He records even the minute details. Bartimaeus throws his cloak off. Jesus’ call alone was enough. He knew that his healing was sure. He got rid of his old life – cloak – once for all. He sprang up to meet Jesus.
(4) ‘Rabboni, I want to see again’
When Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he replied, ‘Rabboni, I want to see again.’ Bartimaeus, who acknowledged Jesus as the Son of David, now accepted him as his Teacher. The word ‘Rabboni’ shows closeness and familiarity (cf. John 20:16, where Mary Magdalene calls Jesus with the same word).
(5) He saw again
Bartimaeus might have been blind due to his illness, or might have lost his sight in an accident. God restores what is lost.
(6) He followed him on the way
When Jesus said, “Go your way,” Bartimaeus changed his way. He did not follow his previous path. He now began to follow Jesus. He stands as a contrast to the young man who wished to follow Jesus but could not make it because of his wealth.
Lessons for us:
(a) God passes by us. We need to make his passing a beneficial event. We need to shout. On hearing us, he stops. He turns his attention to us. Are we sure of what we want out of our lives? Are we determined to achieve it? Are we persevering in it?
(b) Bartimaeus, who was walking by, changed his way because of Jesus miracle, and as he found the Akshaya Patra of his life, he threw off his begging bowl. And he got rid of his past life, which is his cloak.
(c) Bartimaeus is a model for our personal lives as well. We are stagnant in our lives because of hesitation, fear, minding what others think of us, complacency, and a lack of courage. Bartimaeus teaches us that we must keep moving.
In the first reading, Peter writes to his community, “You may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Bartimaeus, who was called out of his darkness (blindness), began to proclaim the excellence of Jesus, who healed him.
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Miracle occurs when our misery and God’s mercy meet (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 111).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
# Be M.er.cy.Fool
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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