Thirtieth Sunday Gospel B

They came to Jericho. 

· Jericho is located about fifteen miles northeast of Jerusalem, five miles west of the Jordan River, and six miles north of the Dead Sea. It is the last major city before climbing up to Jerusalem.

And as Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. 

· It was not uncommon in those days for beggars to be on the main roadways begging for help.

· Imagine yourself being Bartimaeus. Try to feel what he may have felt at the moment.

On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." 

· What is unusual about his statement? He is physically blind, but he has the spiritual insight to recognize Jesus as the son of David, the one promised to come. Imagine his faith expectancy.

· In your spiritual blindness cry out to Jesus from your heart. Imagine your faith expectancy.

And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. 

· How many times have others tried to prevent us from both recognizing Jesus and coming to him in our own journey?

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But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." 

· How persistent have we been in crying out to Jesus in our times of our own spiritual blindness?

· Like him we cannot stop crying out from our inner need.

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, he is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. 

· When Jesus calls us out of our spiritual blind state, how quickly do we respond?

· Imagine the scene and yourself being Bartimaeus.

Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" 

· Be still and listen to Jesus say the same thing to you.

The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." 

· What do you want from Jesus? What is the spiritual blindness that you want to be freed from? What is that area of sin that keeps you away from him?

Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. 

· Do you believe that Jesus wants to do the same for you here and now? What is needed on your part?

· What is the process that we see in this story which is the way Jesus wants to work in our lives as well?

· How can you respond to Jesus this week that reflects the meaning of this passage?