When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.?
Lk.18 :36.
We see a blind beggar here whose name is Bartimaeus (Lk.18:36), sitting by the roadside of Jericho, knowing there would be a mass of people preparing their final journey to Jerusalem to celebrate their annual Passover.
He could not see, but he could hear. On hearing the commotion, he asked what was happening and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. Immediately, like the ten lepers (Lk.17:13), he called out for mercy saying ‘Son of David., have mercy on me ‘, addressing Him by His Messianic title.
This is a profession of faith. He has heard enough about Jesus and knew He was more than a mere man from Nazareth. The people rebuked him, but he was unstoppable, shouting all the more to be noticed amidst the thousands of people moving there. Jesus heard his desperate cry and granted him sight.
When one of my friends told me that she wanted to meet some Catholic nuns (AOJ) who had come out of their Religious Congregation, myself being a Catholic, I grabbed the opportunity to meet them to clarify my doubts about the Catholic Church and that was a ‘day of eye opening’ for me. This reminds us of the persistent man in Lk. 19:3. What may seem like my need to others, may not be really what I want. It seems that he was begging for alms, but what he really wanted was his eyesight.
As a Christian, we should be aware of what is happening around us, especially, these last days, whatever is happening is all written in “The Bible” and we should know this. In Lk.24:18, one of the two disciples returning to Emmaus is asking the Lord, “Are you “only a visitor” to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” referring to the crucifixion of Jesus which was the topic of discussion for everybody at that time.
Our Lord also says, ‘ keep watch‘ as you do not know when the Lord will come (24:42). Lord is looking for Barthimaeuses today who can be watchful and act with faith. There are great many things and decisions which have to be done and taken ‘ at the moment’ or it will never be done.
Let us pray that we are released from a deaf and dumb spirit so that we can hear and speak at right moment.
Sol. Amala Arunachalam (AOJ)