First Reading: Jer 31:7-9
Second Reading: Heb 5:1-6
Dear friends last three
Sundays we have been reading Mark 10 for our gospel in the liturgy. This week
we conclude this chapter with the pericope of blind Bartimaeus. The chapter 10
of Mark’s Gospel begins with Jewish leaders who are attached and clinging onto
the law of moses and unwilling to bend. Then we see rich young man who shows
good will and righteousness but not able to leave the wealth; he is very much
attached and clung to the material wealth. Then we come across the Apostles who
show deep attraction and aspiration to power and position. Despite leaving the
material wealth, family and other worldly pleasure, they could not leave their
ego. At last, we witness a simple person who leaves everything and clings onto
Jesus. This simple person is blind Bartimaeus.
The name ‘Bartimaeus’ is not
the proper name of that person. It is only a connotation that he is a ‘Son of
(bar) Timaeus’. This unknown blind person teaches us many things for our life,
which contrasts three groups who have refused to give up something in Mark 10,
preceding this section. This man was not born blind, rather he has become blind
due to various things that could have happened in his life. Having enjoyed the
sight earlier, now as a blind person he looks for an opportunity to get back to
that past life. He wants to get out of this blind life which makes him stumble
and gives power for the other to silence, subjugate and rule over him. People
tell him to be quiet (Mk 10:48), not because of what he had said but due to his
sight impairment. His physical impairment and lacuna give power for other
people who are not in line with same impairment to rule over him. When we lack
something, we become inferior to others who show excellence in that thing. This
blind person wants to get rid of all those dominances. The dominance of the
OTHER is blocking him from reaching up to Jesus. He needs to shout aloud to get
his voice across Jesus.
In our country, India, we
see people in political carrier enjoying prosperity and wellbeing. But they
lose that freedom of enjoying privileges, prosperity, wellbeing and other
things when others succeed them in power. The loss of power is not the reason
for them to lose those enjoyments. It is their dark spots which had helped them
earlier to acquire those things are now being scanned by others who hold power.
The disclosure of their weakness to the powerful makes them vulnerable and be
under their direction. Hence, their freedom and past peaceful life are taken
away from them. Who will not aspire to come out of such a stressful situation? This
blind person personifies all these people and seeks freedom which he had
earlier. For he wants to see again (Mk 10:51).
Having realised the power of
Jesus who could release him from the bondage of blindness, Bartimaeus runs to Him.
In the second reading, we read that Jesus is the hight priest who could offer
sacrifices for our sins and bring healing. The restoration which Jesus could
offer was not grasped by Jewish leaders, rich young man and the Apostles, is now
being acquired by this simple blind person at the roadside. The reaction of the
Bartimaeus is noteworthy. For he not only leaves the cloak but also Jericho and
starts following Jesus to Jerusalem. The throwing off his cloak and leaving off
Jericho symbolize giving up everything that one holds onto. Jericho, the city
which blocked Israel from entering the Promised Land has to be torn down with the
power of God (Jos 6:1-27). The confession of Bartimaeus; Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me (Mk 10:47-48) is the cry of the penitent who feels remorse for
having gone blind and get closed up within the walls of Jericho. The healing of
Jesus brings joy and sight to the man. The first reading prophesies that the
messiah would bring back all kinds of people – blind, lame, pregnant women… (Jer
31:8) – to Jerusalem. Yes, there is no blindness which Jesus in ‘confession’ could
not heal. Yes, there is no Jericho city which Jesus in ‘the sacrament of
reconciliation’ could not torn down. All that we need to do is to have desire
like Bartimaeus to get back and confess like him the lordship of Jesus. May the
name of the Lord be blessed.
Leave off all that you cling onto...
Get on the way to Jerusalem!
Wonderful reflection father
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