Reflections on Scripture | Thursday of the 8th Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Mark 10:46-52

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.

Reflection

The request of Bartimaeus is radically different than the disciples, who often asked, Lord, give us a position of authority. Let us sit at your right, and another one will say, let me sit at your left and what Jesus is not calling us to is not a worldly authority over people, but he's calling us to an insight to see and understand who we really are, the beauty that we have, the dignity that we have, and to encourage others to see it for themselves.

Nothing is easier for God, in Jesus, to give you what you ask for when you ask for sight. I want to see. I want to know. I want to experience your love.

Closing Prayer

Father, we often find ourselves in a kind of dark place where we're confused. It's a perfect time to turn to you in that darkness and say, Please give me the light that I miss. Give me the understanding I don't see. Open my eyes to a way that I've never thought of before. And that is always answered, because it's what he longs to give to the world. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross