All of the miracles in the Gospels, including today’s account, are physical healings, and they are wonderful. But, they are just the hem of the intentions of the kingdom of God. Christ intends for us a full spiritual healing, a bringing-in to that kingdom, a closer alignment to the will of God.
What we read, then is a forecast of God’s eternal miracle upon each of us. Our response to his grace is the unfolding of that miracle. Our decision to return when we err, to rise when stumbling, to approach the grille of forgiveness when we stray from grace – all of this is part of the miracle that Christ in enacting within us.
Today, Jesus asks the blind man to have courage in approaching him. And Jesus granted the miracle because of the man’s faith. This, too, is part of our unfolding miracle. When so much seems pointless, when we have already confirmed ourselves as sinners, Jesus asks us to trust in him. Specifically, he asks us to trust beyond our boundaries of understanding that God can grant the seemingly impossible.
Once we do this, once we throw off our cloak and approach him, Jesus is there for us. We may, it is true, not get the specific outcome that we are requesting. This is because we are in an arena that Jesus – and not we – are masters of. It is the spiritual healing that trumps any other, as Jesus wants us all to come into the kingdom of God.
It is trust, then, that lives at the heart of today’s Gospel. If we approach with trust, then Christ will enact that miracle. The nature of that miracle is going to remain opaque to us, at least to some degree. Within it, we shall continue to stumble, continue to err, but God will be there as long as we trust. That is the miracle.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 10:46-52
Glory to you, O Lord.
As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say,
‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’
And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder,
‘Son of David, have pity on me.‘
Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.‘
So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you.’
So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus.
Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?‘
‘Rabbuni,‘ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.‘
Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’
And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.