There was a blind, poor and childless beggar who prayed every day that God would reverse his fate. “Dear God, have pity on me!” he prayed.
One day God heard his fervent prayer and said, “I’ll give you only ONE THING that you are asking for.” The blind, poor and childless beggar was thrown into an emotional tizzy. If he asked for sight, he’d see how alone and poor he was. If he asked for wealth, he’d still be blind and have no children to share his money. And if he asked for children, how could he feed them being so poor and he wouldn’t be able to see them?
So finally he prayed: “Dear God, grant me the joy of seeing my children eating off of gold plates!” This was truly a sharp, crafty beggar who knows how to approach the Lord.
In today’s Gospel (Mark 10:46-52) we meet Bartimaeus, another sharp, crafty beggar who knows how to approach the Lord. After he shouts out to Jesus to receive his sight, he receives his sight and follows Jesus.
The Gospel lets us know that Bartimaeus is a beggar. He has no resources. All he has is HIS NEED. His need is all he can present to Jesus. Sometimes we try to bargain with the Lord. “You do this for me and I will do that for you.” The Lord doesn’t want bargaining, false promises and silly vows. The Lord wants our emptiness. The Lord wants our need of him.
When Bartimaeus is told to come to Jesus, he throws off his cloak. This was not only his coat, it was his bed and his security blanket. Because he let go of his only possession he received the miracle of his sight. As long as we cling to our self-made security, we’ll never be able to see the Lord.
What need do YOU have that YOU keep presenting to the Lord?
PLEASE DEAR GOD, LET ME PROVE THAT WINNING THE LOTTERY WON’T SPOIL ME!!
