"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" Bartimaeus, a blind man was sitting on the side of the road begging for his needs. He was labeled by society as "a loser, one without any-thing, one with no hope." He was a product of his time’s poor social services and lack of Christian charity, so he was begging for whatever he might obtain from the pity or the generosity of a passerby. Even though he was of low degree, he nonetheless called out to Jesus repeatedly—as he recognized in Him the power to heal and make all things well. This is what we need to come to understand from today’s readings and from the example of Bartimaeus, to recognize that we too must constantly call out to Christ, seeking His power and mercy, desiring Him to fulfill our needs and extend to us His kindnesses. We must recognize that the same Jesus who cared for and had pity on Bartimaeus, thus making him well, is the same Jesus who will do the same for us today. We must have Bartimaeus’ act of faith. As the sacred scriptures proclaim: "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Bartimaeus did not stop crying out for the Lord after one attempt. He continued until Jesus stopped and came to him. We too must continue to pray, continue to ask for Christ to heal us. What we must also recognize through our own act of faith is that the answer Jesus gives us may not be the answer we want, it may not be the answer we hoped for nor may it be as immediate as was the answer given to Bartimaeus by opening his eyes. But Christ will give us what we need. His kindness is not meant to offer us what we "want" but rather offers us what we need, if even it
entails unpleasant things being part of our life. The act of faith which we must possess will not eradicate the pain and suffering in our lives nor even the impending death which all must endure. Rather, our Christ will show us that our pain and suffering is not meaningless. Indeed, death does not have the last word, Christ does. And His word is eternal, it is peaceful, it is complete and perfect joy. It will heal all things, and breath the fullness of life— His Divine Life—into our very souls. May we acquire the same act of faith that Bartimaeus knew and expressed.