8th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 27th May 2021 — Gospel: Mark 10,46-52
Blind Testimony of Personal Faith
As Jesus was crossing the Jordan and came to Jericho, blind Bartimaeus recognized and addressed Him as the Son of God. It was ironic that while the nation of Israel was blind to the presence of the Messiah, a blind Jew had true spiritual sight. Jesus’ question, “What do you want Me to do for you?” seems like a strange question to ask a blind man. It was the same question Jesus had asked James, John and Salome (Mk 10,36). Here Jesus wanted to give the man an opportunity to express himself and give evidence of his own faith. The blind beggar had twice called him, “Son of David” a national messianic title, but now Bartimaeus called Jesus “Lord”, used the title Rabboni meaning “my master”. Indeed, it is an expression of personal faith. The only other person in the Gospels who used it was Mary (Jn 20,16).
