Daily Gospel Reflection for October 25, 2015

Today's Gospel: Mark 10:46-52

In today’s gospel passage from Mark, we read that Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho when they encounter Bartimaeus. This poor blind man sat by the side of the road begging. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he called out bravely, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”

Even though those around him warned him to stop bothering Jesus, Bartimaeus persisted in his pleas for Jesus to help him. He may have been physically unable to see, but he knew in his heart that Jesus was God and that he had the power to heal. When Jesus was moved and asked the blind man directly what he wanted, Bartimaeus was clear in expressing his faith. His trust was rewarded. Jesus sent him on his way – his sight fully restored – with the words, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”

Bartimaeus believed. He asked for God’s intercession. He trusted and was healed. How often in my life do I neglect to take my greatest crises to prayer, placing limitations around God’s power to intercede in my life? Too often!

I do this both because I waver in my belief and also because too often my prayer is not that God’s will be done in these situations, but instead that he grant my will. Like the blind man, I am lacking in vision, but unlike Bartimaeus, my faith is sometimes not strong enough to save me. Today’s gospel passage reminds me to take courage, to remember to pray when I am struggling, and to have faith that the God who loves me infinitely has a perfect healing in store for me, too.

Ponder:

How has your faith “saved” you in a time of crisis or personal challenge?

Pray:

Jesus, son of David, have pity on me. Master, I want to see. Strengthen me, Lord, that my faith in you may truly save me and lead me forever home with you.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Lisa Hendey