If we take a pause to look at the Sunday Gospel we find a leap of faith.
Our Gospel says that we qualify for help before we can ask for help. Bartimaeus believed that he was worthy of help, not because he was a great person, but because he was one of God's children -- a Jew who had been looking for the arrival of the Son of David, the Messiah.
So, when Jesus heard his cries, and said, "Call him here," Bartimaeus responded by throwing off his cloak and leaping up to meet the one who could help him. He puts himself in a position to receive help and risks further embarrassment in order to get close to Jesus. It's an act of faith.
Bartimaeus thinks to ask, and asking is the key to receiving most anything we need. Jesus, in fact, would tell his disciples, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Asking God for what we need in prayer and asking others for what we need in person opens the door to healing and wholeness.
Jesus' response to Bartimaeus is a question of invitation: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Bartimaeus is ready with a reply: "My teacher, let me see again."
"What do you want me to do for you?" Can you imagine Jesus asking you that question? What would be your response? What are your deepest needs that you haven't asked Jesus or anyone else to help you with? How might you take a leap of faith and ask, believing that you can receive all that you need and more?
So, when Jesus heard his cries, and said, "Call him here," Bartimaeus responded by throwing off his cloak and leaping up to meet the one who could help him. He puts himself in a position to receive help and risks further embarrassment in order to get close to Jesus. It's an act of faith.
Bartimaeus thinks to ask, and asking is the key to receiving most anything we need. Jesus, in fact, would tell his disciples, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Asking God for what we need in prayer and asking others for what we need in person opens the door to healing and wholeness.
Jesus' response to Bartimaeus is a question of invitation: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Bartimaeus is ready with a reply: "My teacher, let me see again."
"What do you want me to do for you?" Can you imagine Jesus asking you that question? What would be your response? What are your deepest needs that you haven't asked Jesus or anyone else to help you with? How might you take a leap of faith and ask, believing that you can receive all that you need and more?
