October 23-24: Preparing for Sunday’s Mass

When Jesus hears the desperate plea of Bartimaeus (Mark 10, 46-52) and calls Bartimaeus to come to Him, the Gospel account tells us: “Bartimaeus 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, ‘Master, I want to see.’”  Full of mercy, as always, without making any demands of Bartimaeus, Jesus simply says to him, “Go on your way; your faith has saved you.” The Gospel says, “Immediately, Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Him on the way.”

Again, without making any demands or claims on him, Jesus sends Bartimaeus away. “Go on your way.” Bartimaeus is given the freedom to become (or not become) a disciple of Jesus. Bartimaeus has to make a choice: he can go his own way or he can follow Jesus. As the Gospel says, Bartimaeus freely chooses to follow Jesus, although Jesus has made no claim on him. Isn’t it intriguing that Jesus’ “way” has now become Bartimaeus’ way? Can each of us say the same?

All of us have received tremendous favors from Jesus. Maybe they have not been as spectacular as physical healing, like with Bartimaeus. But we have all asked God for many things, sometimes with the same desperation with which Bartimaeus asked Jesus for healing. Sometimes we have prayed with the hope of passing examinations; sometimes it may have been a prayer in response to financial or health problems; sometimes it may have had to do with the raising of children or grandchildren; sometimes it may have been to save us from the consequences of our own stupidity! Whatever these problems or needs may have been, often enough we have received relief in our desperation or our anxiety. Who hasn’t tried to bargain with God? “If I get this, I will do that.” Yet how often we have forgotten the “bargain” as soon as we have found relief?

Isn’t it true that we often enough choose to go our own way, and not follow Jesus? He, as we know, never forces us to follow Him. Through His love and merciful actions with us, Jesus proposes “the way” which He travels. Again, He never forces us. We can choose to go our own way or we can follow Jesus on His way.

Before coming to Mass this weekend, take a moment to remember some of those times when Jesus has intervened in your life and, in doing so, has given you an invitation to discipleship. Accepting such an invitation is “the way of the Saints.” Thank God for Saints like Ignatius of Loyola, for example, who saw in their trials the invitation to follow Christ and they accepted. May we, too, see in our trials (and our joys) the invitation to true discipleship – and accept it.

Let us pray. “All powerful and ever-loving God, when Bartimaeus was healed by your Son Jesus, he saw in this healing an invitation to discipleship and followed Jesus on “the way.” Help us to recognize that when good things or bad things happen to us we, too, are being invited. May we have the strength to follow. We ask this in the Name of the same Jesus, your Son, who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever. Amen.”

Bonus: Bartimaeus “live” https://youtu.be/VzOGA1gxosQ

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