Education in Faith
In this week's gospel we listen to the story of the blindman, Bartimaeus. In the time of Jesus, as a blind man, Bartimaeus would be regarded as ‘imperfect’ – incomplete – and consequently in a permanent state of uncleanliness. He would not be allowed to live within the bounds of normal society, nor have contact with people. When Bartimaeus learns that Jesus is passing by, Bartimaeus calls on Jesus to help him and the crowd tries to shut him up and remind him of his status. But Jesus calls Bartimaeus to him and, placing the needs of the other first, asks ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ When Bartimaeus makes his request, Jesus announces that it is his faith that has saved him and his sight is restored. Bartimaeus, like a good disciple, then follows Jesus on the road.
When Jesus encounters Bartimaeus he is sitting by the side of the road – a reject of society sitting off to the side as the world passes him by. There are times in all of our lives when we feel like this: hurt; ashamed; unloved; rejected; cast aside. It is at these moments in our lives that Jesus really wants to ‘break through’ into our experience. If we allow ourselves to hear his voice calling us to him, then we too can ‘throw off our cloak’ – our old life – and join him on the road.