Bartimaeus

 

Do you know anyone who cannot see or is blind? Most of us know a family member, church member, friend or neighbor who is blind. When I served as pastor at another church, there was a lady who was blind and every week, she taped our services and recorded them for other people who were blind.

There are many famous people who were or are blind. Helen Keller was the most famous person. She was blind, deaf and mute. That meant she could not see, hear or talk. Yet, she learned to communicate. She wrote 14 books and hundreds of speeches. She travelled to 35 countries around the world telling people the importance of respecting people who are blind or deaf, and people with other disabilities.

I mention this because in our Gospel today (Mark 10:46-52), Bartimaeus, who is a blind man begs Jesus to restore his sight. He wants to see again. Jesus says, “Go you way; your faith has made you well.” The man became a follower of Jesus.

Sometimes, we may think we cannot do something because we are too old or too young. Maybe we don’t see or hear well. Maybe we cannot move like a dancer or an athlete.

Yet, Bartimaeus, like Helen Keller, was able to do something. He became a follower of Jesus. He was able to see because he had faith.

Today, think about what you want to become or do in life. Ask God to help you do that and – if it is God’s will – He will help you. You may not become famous like Hellen Keller or Bartimaeus, but you will be a follower of Jesus, and that will make all the difference in life. With that, let us pray.

Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their fathers and mothers the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.