Gospel – Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.

Reflection on the Gospel

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

Today’s gospel reading is one that has hidden meaning. The blind man tried to speak with Jesus and the crowd tried to shut him up. When Jesus finally says “Call him” the crowd now encourages him to go to Jesus. The man tells Jesus that he wants to see and Jesus says “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”

How often are we blind to what is happening? Just as the crowd did not recognize Jesus we fail to see Jesus in our daily lives. The blind man in the story is the man of faith, he is rebuked by the crowd and he stood alone. Have you even stood alone for your belief and been made fun of by others? It is at these times that we need to be like the blind man and have the courage to call out to Jesus and ask of him what we need. Listen carefully.  Jesus will answer and you will not be standing alone for your faith will have saved you.

Ms. Margaret DeRosa
La Salle Academy – New York, NY

St. John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.