The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052616.cfm)
inspires me to have faith like Bartimaeus.
One
of my favorite movies is Facing the Giants. In one scene, there was a
story about two farmers. Both of them desperately needed rain, so
they prayed to God for rain. But only one farmer prepared his field to receive
it. Who showed greater faith? Of course the one who prepared his field. God
will send rain when he’s ready or when the time is right. Question is, are we
prepared to receive it?
God wants to
see us with that level of faith.
Sometimes
we pray. We ask from God but we do not really believe that what we pray for
will come true. Sometimes we don't have faith - faith in him, faith in his
word, faith in his power, faith in his goodness, faith in his love.
This
is contrast to the blind man in the gospel - Bartimaeus. He showed much faith.
Great faith in Jesus. Being
a blind person, he begged by the roadside.
Probably he was really desperate,
but definitely not hopeless.
When he heard that Jesus passed by, he gave
all he got and shouted to
get Jesus’ attention. When asked by the people to shut up, he did not lose hope, his spirit was not
dampened, instead, shouted louder. Makulit sya.
Minsan kailangang maging makulit sa panalangin.
When
he was called by people, not Jesus, he showed even greater faith. Even if Jesus
was not the one personally called him, he knew that being summoned by Jesus
would forever change his life. What did he do? From sitting by the roadside,
he threw his cloak and sprang up to
Jesus.
Wow,
what great faith!
During
those times, beggars lived in the streets. Probably his cloak was
his most important possession – not because it was expensive or beautiful,
but because it helped him a lot.
It protected him from the weather, from the heat of the
sun or the coldness of the wind, his cloak was a big help. His action throwing
away his cloak and running to Jesus was like saying “Goodbye cloak, I won’t be needing you anymore!
This Jesus will cure me, and I won’t be blind anymore!”
He
had full faith in the power of Jesus, and he was not disappointed.
Indeed, no one leaves the presence of
Jesus unchanged.
In life, we will not always get immediate answers to our prayers. We will not immediately get
great results. However, this should not dampen our faith. In the same way that
Bartimaeus was not stopped by the people and circumstances, so should we. God
is faithful, and will not abandon those who cry out to him in full faith.
How about us? How do we react
when we don’t seem to get what we want in the first try? Do we get angry or
lose hope, or are we like the blind man whose faith was unwavering? What do I
pray for right now? Do I have faith that God can grant me that? Do I have faith
that he wants to, if it is according to His plan for me? Am I
willing to take a leap of faith? When God gives me what I pray for, do I
remember to thank Him and live my life following Him?
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for your beautiful message.
Thank you for reminding me that you do not disappoint. Thank you for
reminding me how powerful and loving you are. Thank you for reminding me of how
important faith is. Lord, help me improve my faith. May I have faith like
Bartimaeus. When faced with challenges or when I don’t get what I pray for, may
my faith get stronger and still do my part. May I be brave enough to take a
leap of faith, knowing you are there to guide and catch me. And Lord, when you
give me what I pray for, may I never forget to thank you and live my life
serving you. Amen
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
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May 26, 2016
Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest
Lectionary: 350
Reading 1 1 Pt 2:2-5, 9-12
Beloved:
Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk
so that through it you may grow into salvation,
for you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own,
so that you may announce the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were no people
but now you are God’s people;
you had not received mercy
but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners
to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.
Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles,
so that if they speak of you as evildoers,
they may observe your good works
and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Like newborn infants, long for pure spiritual milk
so that through it you may grow into salvation,
for you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings
but chosen and precious in the sight of God,
and, like living stones,
let yourselves be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people of his own,
so that you may announce the praises of him
who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were no people
but now you are God’s people;
you had not received mercy
but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners
to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.
Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles,
so that if they speak of you as evildoers,
they may observe your good works
and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Responsorial Psalm PS 100:2, 3, 4, 5
R. (2c) Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him;
bless his name.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
his courts with praise;
Give thanks to him;
bless his name.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Alleluia Jn 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 10:46-52
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
Amen po. Yes it is true. Faith can move mountains. Amen. :)
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