Life is a journey and during it, in our relationship with Jesus, we are often either: fascinated by Jesus, a fan of Jesus, frustrated by Jesus or we are followers of Jesus. In the readings of today we see all of those portrayed and the challenge of God’s word – as we discern to see the road ahead for us - is to decide which we are, and do you wish to remain there or move toward full discipleship in Christ – being His follower
Bartimaeus, the main figure in the Gospel this Lord's Day, was a blind beggar sitting by the side of the road. All he
could say was “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me”—a prayer of last
resort. The people there scolded him and tried to shut him up, but he wouldn’t
stop, just kept repeating, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus
notices him and beckons him to approach. Bartimaeus does so without hesitation.
He asks nothing of Bartimaeus, demands nothing. He simply
inquires, “What do you want me to do for you?” Is this not the question we
really want to hear? Could it be that the distancing we so often feel
between God and ourselves is not so much God’s doing as it is my own? Am I even
aware of the blindness, the tardiness, the hesitation that keeps me from
following Jesus? A blindness, tardiness and hesitation which turns us into fan instead of follower disciples?
Bartimaeus got his sight and
followed Jesus on the way (he took
the step and saw the affect of
Christ in his life and followed Him.) It is easy to be fascinated, frustrated and even to be a
fan of Jesus. Well, because its dependent on us. But that is not what allows us to see. Jesus wants followers
on the Way Forward – He wanted Disciples and the cornerstone of making the step
from fan to follower is to rely on God’s Mercy. It is openness to letting God
do His will that permits us to take the next step.
St. John Paul II stated that: 'the Church lives an authentic life when
she professes and proclaims mercy ... and when she brings people close to the
sources of the Saviour’s mercy, of which she is the trustee and dispenser'.
Benedict XVI, too, said:
'Mercy is indeed the central nucleus of the Gospel message; it is the very name
of God … May all that the Church says and does manifest the mercy God feels for
mankind. When the Church has to recall an unrecognised truth, or a betrayed
good, she always does so impelled by merciful love, so that men may have life
and have it abundantly'.
Mark, the
Gospel’s author, sums up this story: “He (Bartimaeus) followed Jesus on the way.”
His point is that only a person enlightened by faith can walk “the Jesus walk” without fear because they are not “fans” but they truly see
and are “followers/disciples”. Might this turn of events be an example of such
a reversal? Perhaps it is our turn to
cry out and insist, as did Bartimaeus: “Master,
I want to see.”