What do you want me to do for you? ~ A Reflection on the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Jer 31:7-9

Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6

Heb 5:1-6

Mk 10:46-52

In today's Gospel reading from Mark, we hear about the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, who called out to Jesus to have pity on him.  He was loud and persistent, and the crowd surrounding Jesus as he was leaving Jericho tried to silence the beggar, rebuking him for bothering someone as important as Jesus.  But Bartimaeus would not give up.

Even though Bartimaeus could not see, he had heard all about Jesus and believed that Jesus could heal him.  "Son of David" is what Bartimaeus called him... and Jesus stopped.  "What do you want me to do for you," he asked.

"Master, I want to see."

Bartimaeus' great faith and his persistence in asking for help touched the heart of Jesus.  Can you imagine Bartimaeus' joy when his eyes were opened and he could see this Jesus who had just healed him.  What could he do but to follow him.

In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear the Lord speak about how he will deliver his people, the remnant of Israel and that his people should shout for joy and praise God who is a father to them and who cares for them.

In both of these instances, we see the love, the care and the concern that the Lord has for us human beings; especially for the least of us... even for sinners...  When we have faith and trust in him, our hearts are changed and opened so that God can work in us and through us, to bring his Kingdom to life in our own times.

"The Lord has done great things for us, we are filled with joy."  (Ps 126:3)
   


 ~ Image Source: Healing of a Blind Man by Brian Jekel