Jer 31:7-9; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52
Today's Gospel describes Jesus' final journey to
Jerusalem through Jericho, an ancient city, fifteen miles away from Jerusalem.
Jericho was the first city conquered by the Israelites when they entered
Palestine. It was a city of great wealth and remarkable
beauty. Great numbers of merchants and Jewish priests made their homes in this pleasant city. Jesus was on his way to the Passover. When a distinguished Rabi was on such a journey he was surrounded by his disciples.
beauty. Great numbers of merchants and Jewish priests made their homes in this pleasant city. Jesus was on his way to the Passover. When a distinguished Rabi was on such a journey he was surrounded by his disciples.
The Mosaic Law required every Jewish male over the
age of twelve and living within fifteen miles of Jerusalem to attend the
Passover. It was practically impossible. Hence, those who could not fulfil
this obligation would often line the roads to Jerusalem to greet the
crowds of pilgrims as they passed toward the city. Beggars also capitalized on
the increased traffic through the city to beg for money. At the northern gate
sat one such blind man known as Bartimaeus.
The story of Bartimaeus is the last healing miracle
recorded in the Gospel of Mark. While the majority of those who received
healing in the New Testament are not mentioned by name, in this case, the
beggar's name is given as Bartimaeus. When the people told Bartimaeus the news
of Jesus' passage through the city, he began to shout his remarkable prayer of
faith: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Jesus was surrounded
by a large crowd. Amid the noise and dust, people were jostling for attention,
and beggars cried out for alms. In spite of this tumult, Jesus heard one voice
crying out through the noise of the crowd. In spite of the crowd's objections,
Jesus stopped and, recognizing Bartimaeus' faith, he called him.
This story has many lessons that we should practice
in our lives.
First of all, there is the persistence of
Batimaeus. He was utterly determined to meet Jesus. Nothing would stop him from
it. In the mind of Batimaeus it not a wistful sentimental wish, but a desperate
desire, and it is that desperate desire that gets things done.
In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea
to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However
bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an
impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be
done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.
Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge.
He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be
done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion
and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming
engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
Father and son began to work together. The project started well, but
when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the
life of John Roebling. Washington was also injured and left with a certain
amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to talk or walk.
Everyone said, “Crazy men and their crazy dreams." "It's
foolish to chase wild visions."
In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had
a burning desire to complete the bridge. As he lay on his bed in his hospital
room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the
flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the
trees outside for just a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea
hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best
use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his
wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he
wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping
her arm to tell the engineers what to do.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on
his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular
Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one
man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by
circumstances.
"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the
world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are
omnipotent. The slogan "Press On" has solved and will always solve
the problems of the human race." Calvin Coolidge.
When things
go wrong as they sometimes will.
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill.
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill.
When funds
are low and the debts are high.
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is
pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is
queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a
failure turns about.
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give
up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is
failure turned inside out –
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt
And you
never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to
the fight when you're hardest hit –
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Author
unknown
The second message is: Bartimaeus' response to the
call of Jesus was immediate. In the Gospels we see that many were called by
Jesus. Jesus called the young man who approached him, to leave all his
belongings and follow him. But the young man went away sadly. Jesus message was
addressed to many directly and indirectly to follow him. But the response
except a few men was negative. This call of Jesus has continued throughout
history. But the response of the majority is, "Wait until I have finished
my work." But Batimaeus did not waste time to think, he reacted
promptly. Certain chances happen only once. If we do not act on the
moment the chance is gone, perhaps never to come back. Sean Connery missed
out on $400 million by not taking the role of Gandolf in Lord of the Rings. (He
was promised 15% of the Worldwide Box Office Receipts if he took the role -
which would have earned him the biggest payday of any actor. But he turned it
down, because he said he couldn't understand the script.)
"Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down
the door."
Thirdly, Bartimaeus knew precisely what he wanted.
This is a great problem of modern man. We do not know what exactly we want in
our lives. Our goals are vague attractions.
From the
book What they don't teach you at Harvard Business School by Mark
McCormack:
In the book
What They Don't Teach You in the Harvard Business School, Mark McCormack tells
a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program. In that year,
the students were asked, "Have you set clear, written goals for your
future and made plans to accomplish them?" Only three percent of the
graduates had written goals and plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not
in writing; and a whopping 84 percent had no specific goals at all.
In the
bestseller "Goals!", Brian Tracy teaches you how to identify
in the clearest term the things you want out of life, then how to make the plan
to help you achieve those things. Brian Tracy says there are four reasons why
people don't set goals:
- They don't realize about the importance of goals. If the people with whom you spend the most time — family, friends, colleagues, and so forth — are not clear and committed to goals, there is a chance that you will not be, either.
- They don't know how to set goals. Some set goals that are too general. These are, in reality, fantasies common to everyone. Goals, on the other hand, are clear, written, specific, and measurable.
- They fear failure. Failure hurts, but it is often necessary to experience failure in order to achieve the greatest success. Do not unconsciously sabotage yourself by not setting any goals in which you might fail.
- They fear rejection. People are often afraid that if they are unsuccessful at achieving a goal, others will be critical of them. This is remedied by keeping your goals to yourself at the outset; let others see your results and achievements once you've accomplished your goals.
Let us make a habit of daily goal setting and
achieving, for the rest of our life. Let's focus on the things we want,
rather than the things we don't want. Let's resolve to be a goal-seeking
organism, moving unerringly toward the things that are important to us. Let us
pray to have a clear vision of Christian values and priorities that we may
become true disciples of Jesus like Bartimaeus. Having received his sight
he followed Jesus. He began with a need, went on to express his gratitude,
and finished with loyalty.
May God help to follow this perfect example
of discipleship.Satish