GOSPEL POWER |MAY 27, 2021| THURSDAY

Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop| 8thWeek in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mk 10: 46 -52

As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

REFLECTION

Amid the commotion of the crowd, and despite the  irritated attempts of some people to hush the noisy  beggar, the man’s cry still reaches the compassionate heart  of Jesus, who stops and summons him. From this point of the story,  everyone in the crowd recedes to the background, and this episode  becomes a very personal and intimate encounter between Jesus and  the blind beggar. It becomes prayer — where a human being seeks  God, and God gives his full attention to the needy person. This is  precisely what happens every time we make the slightest move to  connect with God. No amount of distraction around us and within  us can block the encounter, because God hears our faintest cry, even  the inaudible sighs of our heart. We can almost say that God’s mercy  waits on us, respectfully asking what we want, even if, like the blind  beggar, it is obvious what our need is. May such intimate encounters  lead us to discipleship — to the following of Jesus on the way — as it  had been for Bartimaeus

PRAYER

Lord, help us to appreciate the full attention we get every time we call  on you. Amen