was sitting by the roadside. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth passing by, he began
to call out, “Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!” Many people scolded him and told
him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying, “Take heart! Get
up, he is calling you!” He immediately threw aside his cloak, jumped up and went to Jesus.
Then Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Master,
let me see again!” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.”
And immediately he could see, and he followed Jesus along the road.
Reflect
You could almost miss the line in the drama of today’s Gospel. When Jesus calls him,
Bartimaeus throws his cloak aside. That small detail is more telling than we know.
As a beggar, that cloak was likely the only thing that Bartimaeus owned. It was his
covering at night and his protection from sun, wind, and rain. He may have used it to
gather coins or to carry the day’s food when his begging had provided enough. Yet
at Jesus’ call, he tosses it aside. Then, with his sight restored, he leaps up and follows
Jesus. Scripture never mentions him doubling back to retrieve his cloak.
How courageous and faithful Bartimaeus was! Unlike the rich young man earlier in Mark’s
Gospel, Bartimaeus has no trouble abandoning his one possession to follow Jesus.
Perhaps that is why Pope Francis so frequently tells us to reach out to the poor on the
margins – not only so that we can help them, but so that they can teach us what is truly
important, following Jesus.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023