Faith and Persistence

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

A simple, direct request, and as simple and direct a response. Would that we could muster up the faith of Bartimeus!  Or, if we could learn to pray so simply or have even half the confidence that motivated Bartimeus, who had never seen Jesus, (naturally), but had only heard of him.  We too have never seen Jesus, and have only heard of him, but through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, we have had contact with him.  Why is our prayer then so feeble?  Where are our convictions and faith? Like Bartimeus, we are blind, but like Bartimeus, may we learn to pray with faith and conviction. How many times did we read Jesus say, "Your faith has saved you"?  Let's begin there.

Bro. Rene