Coming to our Senses

Week of October 28, 2018

In today’s Gospel we are to look into the awareness of when our senses are fine-tuned, life can find a fullness of meaning.  Bartimaeus is a blind beggar on the side of the road.  Even with his challenges, Bartimaeus uses what he has to make himself aware.  First he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is coming down the road.  He is listening to the crowds, to the traffic and the excitement.  Putting all of this together, he cries out to be noticed.  In being noticed, he is invited into a new relationship with our Savior.  For a blind person, he is aware of a few things.  He first hears the excitement that Jesus is coming.  He then puts himself into a position of being called forth.  He yells out.  While others tell him to quiet down, he is persistent in using what he has which is not his sight, but his voice.  What is most important is that he calls Jesus the Son of David.  This title is reserved for the Savior, the One who is to come.  This blind beggar on the road obviously had done some studying.  Again it comes down to an awareness and not allowing any one of our six senses to be the only way we build our relationship with Jesus.  Bartimaeus acknowledges Jesus by His title as the Savior.  The Son of David will rule His Kingdom forever.  He listened intently even though he never saw a miracle.  Then in the midst of the dialogue, he asks to see.  Bartimaeus can already see with his soul, but he boldly asks for his body to be changed so he can physically see.  Jesus tells him his faith has healed him and he is given the miracle of sight.  Others will come to believe through Bartimaeus.

We too are invited to come to our senses.  We are invited to realize that it is not about the challenges of our physical body that should matter, but the senses of our soul.  We are invited set aside whatever prevents our soul from experiencing the grandeur and splendor of God. We are to fine tune our senses to build an awareness of where Jesus is and who He is.  We are to not allow distractions of imperfection to blur our soul’s vision.  Bartimaeus followed his heart and knew who Jesus was better than those who were walking with Him.  They did not call Jesus by His title Son of David.  How does a blind beggar on the side of the road understand all this?  Awareness.

May our awareness of the movement of God fill us with joy!

Reverend John J. Ouper