First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9; Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52

Remember,

James and John

asking for the best seats

in the Kingdom of God?

Jesus never asked them

what they wanted.

And today

we have a poor blind man

sitting on the curb

in the center of a crowded street,

begging.

He listens to the crowd

and learns Jesus is in town.

He shouts

Jesus, Son of David,

have pity on me.

The people want him quiet,

to be unseen.

Be quiet, don’t yell,

don’t call attention to yourself

they urge.

The poor blind beggar

does not fear the crowd,

he knows who he is

and he knows who Jesus is.

He calls out

more urgently

Jesus, Son of David,

have pity on me.

Jesus hears the blind beggar,

sees him,

and calls him.

The poor, blind beggar

springs to his feet,

throws aside his cloak

and stands before Jesus.

Jesus smiles

at the poor, blind beggar

and asks,

what do you want me to do for you?

And the poor, blind beggar responds

I want to see.

I want to see

I want to see!  I want to see.

I want to see with my eyes

I want to see with my heart

I want to see with my mind

I just want to see

And Jesus heard

the poor blind beggar,

opened his eyes,

opened his heart,

opened his mind.

Jesus called

the poor, blind beggar

by his name,

Bartimaeus.

And the poor, blind beggar

was no longer poor,

no longer blind,

no longer a beggar.

Bartimaeus

followed Jesus

And you?

What

do you want Jesus to do for you?