Monday 15 November 2010

Lord, help me recognize my own blind spots

15 November 2010

Monday of the Thirty-third week in Ordinary Time

Mass.
Intro: Fr. S . . .
LUKE 18:35-43
(Revelation 1:1-4, 2:1-5; Psalm 1)
In the Gospel, we have the beautiful story of the blind man near Jericho.
The blind man had an intense desire to be healed. When he heard Jesus was passing that way. He shouted, “Jesus, son of David have pity on me.” People scolded him to be quiet.
They thought that the blind man was asking for alms. But his need was deeper. He refused to be silent and restrained.
It was the desperate need and longing attracted the power of Jesus. It was a cry and tears of a very poor human heart which finds a response in the heart of Jesus.
It was the blind man’s faith which opened the power of Jesus.
Seeing his faith, Jesus said to the blind man, “Have sight, your faith has saved you.”  Immediately his sight was restored.
We too are blind spiritually.
Let us acknowledge the blind spots that we have in our relationship with God and others and our need of healing.
Like the blind man in the Gospel, we bring our blind spots to Jesus for healing in faith in his power.
 + + + 
I should have remembered that the Jericho blind man is named "Bartimaeus" in Mark 10:46. The harmony of the Gospels fills the frame. 
Blind Bartimaeus
Harmony of Gospels.
Blind Bartimaeus and his companion healed
Mat 20:29-34
Mar 10:46-52
Luk 18:35-43
29  And as they were going out of Jericho, a great throng accompanied Him.
30  And behold, two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, Lord, have pity and mercy on us, [You] Son of David!
46  Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, a son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
47  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have pity and mercy on me [now]! 
35  As He came near to Jericho, it occurred that a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
36  And hearing a crowd going by, he asked what it meant.
37  They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.
38  And he shouted, saying, Jesus, Son of David, take pity and have mercy on me! 

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