We don't have his first name. We just know him as Bartimaeus, which literally means "Son of Timaeus", a point made clear in today's Gospel reading at Mass (Mk. 10.46-52). We do know two things about him, however, that are his and his alone:
He was blind,
He had a faith that could not be silenced.
Knowing that Jesus was near by, this man kept crying out hoping, no, expecting, Jesus to hear him. Those around him kept trying to keep him quiet, to keep him from disturbing Jesus, to keep him in his place. Undeterred, he kept shouting until he heard the words, "Take heart, get up, He is calling you." Because of his faith and perseverance, Jesus not only heard him, Jesus granted him the one thing he wished for, what he needed, his vision.
Perhaps that is something we need to take with us today: when we truly need Him, to actually open the eyes of our hearts and see around us, we need to be persistent in calling upon Him, but also to be aware enough to hear when He calls us to where we truly can see, not as we want, but as we need. In doing so, then like Timaeus' son, we can then truly follow Jesus.
Take heart, get up, He is calling you.
Comments