Psalm of Praise: Psalms 126:1-3
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Bible Reading: Mark 10:46-52
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout,
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more,
"Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you."
Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."
"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you."
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
A Reflection
As I read again the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar by the roadside in Jericho, I am caught by his decision to shout out to Jesus for mercy and, when rebuked and told to be quiet, his willingness to shout even louder for the attention of a man he couldn’t see but was only aware of through the response of others.
I wonder how willing you are to shout out to Jesus for whatever needs you have at the moment, how prepared you are to cause a scene in order to get his attention and have your prayers answered. Or is there a voice in your head that rebukes you and tells you to be quiet, that God has more important issues to deal with than the ones that concern you.
The truth that we see countless times in the New Testament is that Jesus always has time for the individual in the crowd and is willing to answer their prayers. There is no limit or restriction on the grace and compassion of Jesus.
Imagine your situation now. Jesus has turned to you and is asking you, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ How would you answer him today?
Bartimaeus asks to be able to see. But physical blindness is not the only form of blindness, sometimes we struggle to see what God is doing in our lives or in the world around us, too blind to notice which direction he is going in.
Let us be like Bartimaeus. Let us ask Jesus to open our eyes and let us then choose to follow him along the road.
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, as I come to you with the concerns on my heart, reassure me of your unconditional love for me,
and open my eyes to see what you are doing in my life today.
Amen
It is the cry of my heart.