Seachange or See Change

The Roman Catholic Lectionary for today contains Scripture passages which speak of the Joy of being reunited with God. Mark’s Gospel is the story of the healing of the Blind Bartimaeus. After this beggar has his sight returned, he unites himself with Jesus. He has responded to Jesus call. The story begins for Bartimaeus when he hears Jesus and His entourage approaching. He is moved to cry out for mercy. The blind and the unfortunate, in Jesus time, were often thought to be punished for sin in their sorry state. Jesus asks him “What do you want me to for you?” How do we answer this question from Jesus? Certainly when we have sought mercy, forgiveness or consolation Jesus has heard our cry. I suspect that Bartimaeus had thought about the answer for a long time. His answer is simple, expected and profound. The success of his request would mean change. He literally would see things in a different light. Change is threatening. We may be reluctant to present our request to Jesus. The fear we have is that He might grant it. Our change would be compelled by our new sight and our new Life. A relationship with the Divine is Joy and Challenge. Praise God