Bartimaeus

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
Mark 10:46-52

Reflection:
Mention the name Bartimaeus and we will find many know this story pretty well. How blind Bart regained his sight just for having faith. I think we pretty much would like the same thing happen in our lives. To have what ails us be healed by faith alone. It does happen too, when we hear of people beating the odds, because their faith did a most wonderful thing, it gave them hope.

But how we forget that in our journey as with blind Bartinaeus, there are those who try to silence our pleas. Rebuking us for having faith in an unseen personage. There are those who tell us to be silent when we call out to Jesus for his help. But blind Bartimaeus kept calling Jesus no matter the obstacle, he persisted that Jesus would hear him in spite of the others telling him to be silent.

Blind Bartimaeus showed us faith in action, an undying call to our Lord for his help. Do we give up when others tell us to be silent? Or do we do as Bartimaeus, keep calling. Remember it was his all out faith that helped him see not only physically but spiritually. And to think he was also told to go his own way, but we read how he kept on following Jesus. Now that is faith!