Gospel (Lk 18:35-43)

As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Commentary

Bartimaeus, blind and poor, sits by the side of the road begging for alms. But his heart is seeking something more than merely material goods. He is seeking the full meaning of his existence. Then one day Jesus passes by and changes his life.

When Jesus arrived in Jericho and drew close to him, Bartimaeus immediately realized that something unusual was happening, since he could hear a great crowd of people going by. His heart was alert and he asked what was happening. The people answered: “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he began shouting: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Bartimaeus, with a humble heart, was moved by the Holy Spirit to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. That is why he cries out. He needed money to be able to eat, but above all he needed the Messiah, the Savior. And when he realized that he was near he didn’t let the opportunity pass him by.

Those beside Bartimaeus rebuked him and told him to be quiet. Perhaps they thought he was bothering the Master. But they don’t know Jesus. Jesus has come to seek those who hunger and thirst for Him.

Bartimaeus refuses to remain silent, and cries out all the louder: “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus, who had heard his cries from the beginning and whose heart had been moved, orders that Bartimaeus be brought into his presence. And he asks: “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And the miracle is done.

Jesus seeks souls one by one. He wants to have a personal encounter with each one. He wants us to seek Him and hunger and thirst for Him. Jesus does not impose himself on our lives but rather begs for a bit of our love.^[1]

We can learn many things from Bartimaeus, especially the faith that leads us to seek our Lord eagerly despite any obstacles. As Saint Josemaría wrote in The Way: “When I made you a present of that Life of Jesus, I wrote as an inscription. ‘May you seek Christ: may you find Christ: may you love Christ.’ Three perfectly clear stages. Have you tried, at least, to live the first?”^[2]

Seeking Christ means making use of the means to find Him. We have to seek Him eagerly in the Word and in the sacraments, which are the ways by which we find Him and come to love Him.

^[1] Cf. Saint Josemaria, Christ is Passing By, no. 179.

^[2] Saint Josemaria, The Way, no. 382.