When Jesus heals, he not only restores sight, cures leprosy, or raises up the suffering from their sickbeds. He does something truly life-giving: he brings the healed ones back into the community. In this Sunday’s Gospel, blind Bartimeus and his family are ostracized from society because it is thought that some sin caused the blindness. Jesus spends a great amount of time explaining to the crowd that sin didn’t cause the blindness, and that God’s desire is that Bartimeus and his family have their dignity and rightful place in the community restored.
We are made for relationship, and when we are in the company of others, we are gifted with support, encouragement, and acceptance for who we are as children of God. The cure of Bartimeus reveals who Jesus is and speaks volumes about the compassionate power and love of the One who has come to heal the nations.
Today we might ask ourselves how we receive those who have physical or emotional challenges or those who are longing to be accepted, heard, respected, and befriended. Have we turned someone away who is difficult to love? Have we overlooked someone who needs our friendship? Jesus invites us to see with eyes of compassion and welcome all with love.
As we pray for peace in the world and an end to violence of every kind, we call upon Christ – who is light in darkness – to heal us with his grace and mercy.
Lenten blessings,
