WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM TODAY’S GOSPEL? October 27, 2024

First, of the three Evangelists who recount this miracle, St. Mark alone tells us the blind man’s name: “Bartimaeus” (that is Son of Timaeus). St. Mark usually tells us someone’s name in the course of his Gospel only if it has some special relevance. For instance, Mark alone tells us that Simon of Cyrene was the father of Alexander and Rufus, who were clearly well-known members of the early Church. It therefore seems reasonable to assume that Bartimaeus also was well known in the circles for whom Mark wrote his Gospel.

It is always fascinating to catch glimpses of the continuity between our Lord’s Public Ministry and the Church after Pentecost, for apart from Our Lady and the Apostles we do not hear of many other persons who had met Our Lord and then carried on as His followers in the early Church. In fact, Mark offers us a hint when he comments at the end of the story that “he was on the road”. So presumably he continued as Our Lord’s follower or disciple ever afterwards.

We also learn from this Gospel reading that faith and healing go together. Bartimaeus used a very special title when he called out to Our Lord: “Son of David!” He recognised that Jesus was not simply the Carpenter’s son from Nazareth. This is also very important because some commentators have assumed that such titles as this were not used by Jesus of Himself at all, but only applied to Him by the early Church. But of course, Bartimaeus must have known that Jesus was more than an ordinary man because no ordinary man could give a blind man his sight! Moreover, Bartimaeus knew that Jesus was not some kind of magician but was endowed with God’s kingly power.

This is so because, according to the Prophets, David was the great King of Israel whose descendent, or Son, would be the Messiah (the Anointed One, or “Christ”). Thus, Bartimaeus already had faith in Christ, as Son of David. He now had the opportunity to put that faith into action. So when Our Lord asked him, “what do you want me to do for you?” he replied, “Rabbuni (meaning “my Master”), give me back my sight!”. Our Lord’s answer was to tell him that “his faith had saved him.”

This does not mean that Bartimaeus could save himself, but that his faith was the opening for Our Lord to heal him.

~ FR. PAUL DOBSON