The Inner Light

Today’s Gospel Text:  And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:46-52

Reflection: Blindness is like the darkness that does not enable us to see the things around us.

Our eyes may be open and we may search and seek out and yet we may never find the things unless we are familiar with the surroundings.

How then can the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, perhaps blind from birth, be familiar with the things around him?

A blind man can work with assistance from outside because his other senses may still be working and enlightening his various faculties.  

The poor and the handicapped are more open to take the help of the other and are much dependent on external help to lead them anywhere or rather those who acknowledge their poverty and handicap are blessed, they shall seek that external help and may not easily fall into a ditch.  

Thus there may have been many blind men in and around Jericho and yet it was only Bartimaeus who cried with a faith for that real and true external help that made the miracle possible; a help that never deceives. 

Deep within the blind man may still feel the burden of burdening others with his handicap, even though in reality the handicapped are always a blessing to the community because they teach us the essential things of life, things that can ultimately lead us to eternal life. 

One of the essential things that they teach us is that we too are handicapped in some measure or the other and our pride may blind us to this reality. 

We do not know why they are handicapped but God is closer to them in a special way and is always willing to help them if only they know how to acknowledge and seek him.

And who is a handicapped? Is it the one whose eyesight fails him or is it the one whom the world sees and recognizes as one or is it the one who in their deepest being feel the need for help to take them out of their misery?

Yes, the world may not recognize the deeper handicap of every human being and even that situation is a situation of being handicapped but it is only those who know and acknowledge their handicapped nature and turn to the savior Jesus Christ,who alone can help, they will be the ones who will find their salvation.

Prayer: "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears. 2 Sam 22:7

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