Sunday 24 October 2021 – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10: 46-52
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.”
And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection:
We notice in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus used to teach patiently his disciples who have some difficulties to understand. There are like blind people. The first teaching that they received is that one can be physically blind but is able to recognize that Jesus is the son of David. They live with Jesus, have healthy eyes but incapable to recognize who Jesus is.
The second lesson is the patience and persistence of Bartimaeus (“son of Timaeus”). This converted the crowd, the first time they rebuked him but in the second time they announced him the good news saying: Take courage, get up because you are called.
In this Gospel we can ask Jesus to heal us of blindness of heart, to recognize Him and to be converted as His missionary disciples to those who have not yet seen or known Jesus.