For Jesus, the end of the road was not far away. Jericho was only about 15 miles from Jerusalem. Jesus was on his way to the Passover. When a distinguished Rabbi or a teacher was on such a journey, it was the custom that he was surrounded by a crowd of people, disciples, and learners, who listened to him as he talked.
Those in Jericho who were not able to go to Jerusalem for the Passover in Jerusalem would line the streets to wish the many who were passing through and on their way to Jerusalem “God-speed.” And now, there were many more people who were lining the streets very eager and curious to catch a glimpse of the audacious, young Galilean who had pitted himself against the powers-that-be.
At the northern gate of the town sat a beggar, Bartimaeus by name. He heard the tramp of feet. He asked what was happening and who was passing. He knew that the chance of a lifetime was within his grasp. Bartimaeus was not about to miss this opportunity! From the roadside, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Some people in Jesus entourage were embarrassed to have this dirty, rude beggar bother the master and they attempted to silence him. But Bartimaeus would not be denied. And so, Jesus asks “What do you want me to do for you?”
“My teacher, let me see again.”
And he was healed.
Disciples of Jesus have vision problems. How often do we use the metaphor of blindness to describe our inability to grasp the meaning of the suffering we endure? More worrisome is the inherited blindness which so often assumes that there are no lessons left to learn. Arrogance is very often the root of our blindness. We need the miracle of restored sight each day.
As we recognize the things that blind us from the Lord and paralyze us from effective action, let us never cease begging the Lord to heal us! “Lord that I might see!” And when our vision is restored, let us get up to follow him joyfully along the way to the Kingdom.
God bless! Have a wonderful week!