Lord That I May See!

(Homily for the 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B)

 

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary

When troubles come and my heart burdened be

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence

Until you come and sit awhile with me

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up…To more than I can be 

     The soul touching lyrics above of Josh Groban captures exceedingly well those existential conditions that bring us face to face with human fragility at one end and the liberating power of God’s grace at the other. In our journey of life, many a times we are faced with existential ups and downs, sometimes we are knocked down and battered by the trials and ordeals of life. However, in those moments of human fragility, we need to be picked up, to be raised up. As such, those moments when our createdness weighs down on us, we need to have a “pick-me-up” experience, and we need Jesus to pick us up. He comes to the aid of our weakness and failures. He did not come only to liberate us of all diminishment, frustration, ailments and sins. He did not come only to show us who we are and who He wants us to be. He came to ask, to invite and to implore us to become liberators of others. This indeed was the motivational force behind Bartimaeus’ prompt decision to follow Him.

     The first reading (Jer. 31:7-9) from the prophecy of Jeremiah is part of the series of four poems that celebrate the return of the Israelites from Babylonian exile. Upon closer look, one discovers that these poems are connected with the prophecy of Deutero-Isaiah. At first Yahweh invites the people to jubilate for He has saved them, He saved them from bondage. This passage reveals Jeremiah’s hope for the restoration of his people, as indicated in the prophecy of the new covenant, which we find in the later chapter. Similarly, like the hymn of return in the prophecy of Isaiah 35, our present hymn emphasizes the presence of the weak among the people that returned, amongst them were the blind, the lame and nursing and pregnant mothers. Be that as it may, we may well presume that it is the mention of the blind in this passage that connects it to the passage of the Gospel about blind Bartimaeus. Indeed, the journey of some of the blind people of Israel to freedom is a preparatio for the healing and restoration of Bartimaeus.

     The Gospel (Mk. 10:46-52) presents the last miracle that Jesus performed before his Passion according to the account of Mark, but also of Mathew and Luke. St. Mark in his account gives the name of this blind man as Bartimaeus, while Mathew and Luke did not mention the name in their own accounts. Jesus performed this miracle along the road that goes from Jericho to Jerusalem, where his supreme sacrifice awaits him. Is all about the story of Bartimaeus, whose identity is characterized by three qualities: blind, beggar and alone. But on this existential dangerous road leading from Jericho to Jerusalem, Bartimaeus had an encounter that changed his whole life. It was his day of total turn-around. His grace was the coincidence of finding himself one day, on the same road with Jesus. And to say the least, this unexpected encounter on that beautiful day changed everything about him. Besides, in Bartimaeus we see three great qualities that led him far: ● First, his belief in God, and trust in Jesus the Messiah, as he was shouting and imploring: “Jesus Son of David” and Jesus recognized his great faith: “your faith has saved you”. ●Second, his conviction in imploring for healing with a loud voice: “have mercy on me” with much insistence, without allowing the crowd or any factor to shout him down, rather he shouted all the more louder ●Third, his decision to follow Jesus after his human (his dignity as man and child of God was restored), social (he entered once again into rapport with others), psychological (he regained his self-concept and esteem) and spiritual (regained his rapport with God) healing, indeed, the healing not only restored his sight, but it equally opened up a new horizon (from a blind beggar to a disciple of Jesus).

     Let us take time to follow the circumstances surrounding this miracle in order to savour its spiritual depth. The story began with the departure of Jesus from Jericho, he was not alone, but with his disciples and a large crowd, then there was also Bartimaeus sitting along the road. He only heard that it was Jesus passing, he began to shout. This presupposes that this is not his first time of hearing about Jesus. He must have heard about Him prior to this context, and for him it was a rear occasion he cannot afford to miss. Upon realizing Jesus’ presence it was as if every gesture, every action he took was excessive. He was not just talking but he was shouting, he shouted even louder when the crowd reacted against him. Interestingly, he started by imploring for God’s mercy: “Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me”. He knew that he needed something more than restoration of sight, he needed also spiritual healing. This was glaring in his supplication literally in Greek “Kyrie eleison”, this for the Greek people is an invitation for spiritual healing. Likewise, at the beginning of the Eucharistic sacrifice it is used to implore God’s healing and purification.

     Then followed the reaction of the “many” in the crowd who tried to shout him down. Of course, they could not succeed because Bartimaeus was intent and insistent on making something out of this encounter. Surprisingly, in the midst of the large crowd Jesus distinguished the voice of Bartimaeus. Jesus stopped and said: “call him”. Now some members of the crowd called him, they developed sympathy for him, “Take heart; rise, he is calling you”. Thus, Jesus teaches the crowd and us today that the sufferings of others should not only stir up just sympathy in us, but empathy. Once again his gestures and actions were excessive, he did not just remove his cloak, but he threw it off, he did not just stand up, but he sprang up and went to Jesus. Jesus’ presence and voice healed him. The healing of Bartimaeus started when he left everything that was sustaining him, and without seeing he started moving towards that voice, that was vibrating on air, because he was guided and oriented by the words of Christ. He received an internal liberation and enlightenment that made him to stand firm and began to walk towards Jesus, even though he was not seeing him, he was following the eco of His voice.

      Here comes the shocking question of Jesus: “what do you want me to do for you?” (v.51). This question must have sounded strange to those around, because it was obvious that the blind man wants Jesus to restore his sight. The interaction between Jesus and Bartimaeus may apparently give the impression that Jesus is unaware or unconcerned of the situation of the blind man. For the question “what do you want me to do for you?” is suggestive of that, it is obvious that a blind man would be asking for sight (though it is not a given, he could also limit himself to ask of a few coins). But the blind man patiently replied, “Master, let me see again”, and indeed he was healed both physically and spiritually: “Go your faith has saved you. And at once his sight returned” (v.52). Jesus knows everything concerning people, everything concerning us, as he knew about Nathaniel under the fig tree (Jn. 1:48) and about the Samaritan woman who had five husbands before her present partner (Jn. 4:18). Likewise, Jesus knows about the condition of the blind man, he knows our conditions too. Whatever we are passing through today is not beyond his knowledge. However, Jesus allowed him to speak out, to voice out his problems in order to prepare his heart for the imminent healing. So, child of God you might have stood alone along the road of life like Bartimaeus, do not give up, insist and persist. The voice of Jesus will re-echo to you: “What do you want me to do for you?”

     The interpretative key to this miracle could be found in the Gospel of St. John in Jesus’ affirmation: “I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, but have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12). In fact, in his programmatic mission speech, Jesus declared: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free” (Lk. 4:18). Jesus has the miraculous power to restore sight to the blind, for he is the light of the world. He came to be the light of our souls and to indicate to us the way to follow. Therefore, humanity needs Him, for without Him man gropes in the darkness of sin and meaninglessness of life. Jesus came to enlighten us and liberate us from our spiritual blindness, from the darkness of sin. Little wonder, the first request of the blind man in today’s gospel: “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me”. Even though, we may not suffer from physical blindness like Bartimaeus, but when we are living in the darkness of sin, we need His light, and just like Bartimaeus we should stand at the road of life and implore his mercy. Like Bartimaeus on that dangerous road going from Jericho to Jerusalem, which symbolizes for us the road from earth to heaven, we need to shout, Lord that I may see!

    On the other hand, as Christians who have encountered Jesus, and have been enlightened by Him, we have the duty to enlighten many today who are in darkness, those in search of meaning in life, and those who lack a point of reference in life. We are called to be light to them; in fact as Jesus reminded us “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden” (Mt. 5:14), elsewhere he said “In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven” (Mt.5:16).

     Above all, in this gospel narrative we see majorly three figures (Bartimaeus, Jesus and the crowd). Sometimes we may find ourselves in the shoes of Bartimaeus, in a situation of existential and spiritual need, and upon our effort to get rid of them, those around us (friends, neighbours and relatives) may rebuke us, but insist and persist like our blind friend today, until Jesus hears, distinguishes your voice and stops. And when he stops there begins the encounter that changes life and produces effect. Some members of the crowd were a stumbling block, obstacles to his healing and restoration, they were rebuking him, because he was disturbing their peace. They were Bartimaeus enemies of progress, but he did not give them chance, and that is why his healing came through. Sometimes also we shout at and rebuke the needy and those in difficulties. Jesus teaches us what it means to have a heart that sees and an ear that distinguishes the voice of one who is suffering and in need of help. He does not stop at the level of sympathy (of saying courage, take heart), rather he empathized with him and felt in his shoes. He heals both his spiritual and physical blindness.

     In all, Bartimaeus teaches us in today’s gospel that prayer tailors our faith. There is no true and authentic faith without a persistent and trusting prayer. At the beginning of the episode we were told that Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus, but at the end he came to know Jesus not only by hear say, but he saw Him with his eyes, and His healing and comforting presence equally propelled him to follow Him. Upon deeper reflection, the message of this passage revolves around the fact that a true and authentic disciple is cured of his Christological blindness that is the blindness of seeing in Jesus only the miracle worker and not the suffering servant, and Bartimaeus demonstrated this by following Jesus in the way of the Cross. Therefore, in connection with the discipleship of Jesus, Bartimaeus teaches us that at the face of the internal and external difficulties involved in following Jesus, a disciple cannot but recourse to insistent prayer, prayer that is a sign and manifestation of one’s faith. Therefore, today more than ever, we need to rediscover the value of prayer. However, the presence and companionship of Our High Priest gives us courage to continue to journey on the lonely road of life.

     Thus, the second reading (Heb. 5:1-6) from the letter to Hebrews continues in its exposition of the theme of the High Priest of Christ. The passage sets out to give us an assurance of faith as regards the provenience and the purpose of the election of this High Priest: ●The high priest was dully appointed by God. ●He was chosen among men to act as their representative before God in offering sacrifices for sins. ●He sympathizes with sinners. Our High Priest consoles us as Bartimaeus was consoled with the empathizing presence of Son of David, who understands our weaknesses and human fragility. Oremus: Lord Jesus our Eternal High Priest as you continue to move around doing good, do not pass us by, recognize our voices of supplication in the midst of the noisy world as you did to Bartimaeus. May your healing presence dispel the darkness of our sins and inadequacies. Amen!!

(Fr. Vitus Chigozie, SC)