This Sunday, October 27, 2024, the Gospel reading is about a prayer of a beggar, blind man named Bartimaeus, who was begging along the roadside at Jericho (Mark 10:46-52).
Bartimaeus was not blind from his childhood. He was not like the man blind from childhood as recorded in Mark 8:22-26. There is no story of when he became blind and what caused his blindness. As a beggar, he may be begged for coins or food to eat but when he heard that Jesus had passed by he begged a mercy from Jesus. He said, “Rabbi, I want to see,” (Mark 10:51).
Bartimaeus might not be the only beggar sitting along the roadside of Jericho. At the time of Jesus, Jericho was a center of trade. Many tax collectors can be found in this city. Beggars can also be seen there lined up along the road.
Jericho was a center of the rich and powerful people and homeless people often lined on the streets outside the city. The streets of Jericho were a good place to meet wealthy merchants and local politicians who could give them alms. Jericho is a picture of a society of rich and poor; a society of the ruler and the ruled.
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me,” cried Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was blind but not deaf. He heard that Jesus was passing by. He had no choice but to “shout out loud.” The cry is a prayer of mercy to the so-called Son of David, the expected Savior of the Jews from the slavery of their country which at that time was conquered and ruled by the Roman Empire.
“Crying out” or constantly shouting is a way of praying so that Jesus will hear him. “Have mercy on me,” Bartimaeus expressed his need for mercy from Jesus. He asked for no other grace. All he wants from Jesus is mercy to see the world around him.
Jesus commanded his Apostles to call Bartimaeus and he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus answered, “Rabbi, I want to see,” (Mark 10:51). Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road (Mark 10:52). Bartimaeus was healed because he believed in Jesus.
Bartimaeus’ need is to see. In our present context, seeing is not enough. Seeing the world around us is to witness and the best way to witness is to tell the truth.
We, Christians, have the responsibility to tell the truth. As followers of Jesus, we should believe in him as the Lord of truth. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” (John 8:31-32).
What is the truth in our present context? One of the truths is that our people have lost their hope over the leaders, especially the political dynasty, of this country. They do not like them but they have no choice. This is may be the reason why the Makabayan offers candidates as alternatives.
The other truth is that the system of corruption in our society is rampant. Every transaction from top to bottom of the government offices needs is like a business. It is necessary to give a “gift” for the immediate action of anyone’s need. In every project in the government, there is a “commission” received by those who facilitated the transactions. Corruption is already rooted in the culture of the people “serving” in the government.
The other one truth is the dependency of this country to the United States of America and its allies. The values of self-reliant and self-sustaining have not been inculcated in the mind of the Filipino people. What they learned is that the Philippines is a poor and powerless country and only the foreign super powers can help and defend the people in this country.
The feeling of hopelessness of the people had already pushed them to be indifferent. In fact, they do not think that change for good will happen in the near future. They do not even imagine of the people’s movement that can immediately effect a change even some of their leaders have decided to run as senators, party-list representatives and local councilors in May 2025 elections.
This situation is may be one of the reasons why they just accept that election in the Philippines would be dominated with golds, guns and goons. Thus, it is useless to participate in electoral processes or if they will participate, they will sell their votes.
The truth, however, election is not only the solution to the problems of our country. Elections are dictated by the rich and those in power. The wealth and power are the source of unceasing and rampant corruption and fascist rule in our society. Elections are an instrument of the rich to stay in power and continue to plunder the wealth God has bestowed to his people.
Based on the Gospel, we have taught to be like Bartimaeus. Amid darkness, the eagerness to see the brightness of the future become a prayer.
Surely, the Lord Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind people. People who are not only blind in real life but in being blind in spirit and truth. When a person comes to the Lord Jesus Christ, his blinded eyes are opened to the truth of the Gospel and of the realities around. This person must witness and fight for the right, just and good. The mercy and blessing a person received from God must be transformed into a value of doing good things and one of the good things is to fight for the truth.
We should thank Bartimaeus who reminds us that we need to have courage to shout, to express our prayer in a loud voice and not to lose hope to accompany Jesus for the liberation of the people even on the cross.
There are people who are suffering but they are struggling. Their struggle must be a mass movement. We have to be in solidarity with them.
The mass movement initiated by Jesus in his time must be rekindled. The sight given to Bartimaeus must spread around the communities of “blind” people and we must be a witness to the power of prayer in a loud voice by saying, Lord Jesus, we want to see the truth of social justice and lasting peace.
We want to be a witness to the truth of sacrifice and to the truth of the resurrection and national salvation which will be realized by so-many Bartimaeus who have faith in the mass movement of the Liberator, the Messiah, the Christ.
