The prophet Jeremiah prophesies that the Lord will come to save His chosen people who experience hardships during their captivity. Even the blind and the lame will be brought back home. In ancient Israel, physical infirmity and sickness were considered punishment for sin. That is why this prophecy testifies to God’s unconditional and transcending love. God’s love heals and redeems.
The eyes are the windows of our soul. They help us see, but only to some extent. Some people are born blind but are gifted with stronger senses. They are more sensitive and alert to different stimuli. Many people may have perfectly beautiful eyes, with 20/20 vision. But this does guarantee a healthy spiritual vision. Indeed, there are people who have eyes but don’t see.
Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was blind and had to beg on the road to live. The name Timaeus means a man of honor. One may ask, “What is honorable in being blind and having to beg for food and other personal needs?” But Bartimaeus, although blind, saw more than what many failed to see. He saw an irresistible light in Jesus. He couldn’t stop himself from begging Jesus to help him because he clearly saw Who Jesus is and what He can do. His spiritual vision is 20/20. He couldn’t be wrong in what he saw.
This could be one of the reasons why this blind man had to be named unlike the other healing miracles of Jesus where the names of the people who got healed were not mentioned. He had to be named to further emphasize his strong faith in spite of his physical weakness.
Bartimaeus was physically blind, but he chose to see. While there are people today who have eyes in good physical shape but choose not to see. Some people are blind to the needs of others, blind to the injustices and abuses around them and blind to the many blessings that God is giving them day by day.
May the Lord heal us of physical infirmities and spiritual blindness. May He help us see through our hearts where He sowed seeds of goodness and love. As we get old and become frail, the physical eyesight start to fail. So, be it. But let us not allow our hearts and spirits go blind, ever.
Blessings!
Fr Gilbert
