St. George Maronite Catholic Church

SUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN
Liturgical Notes:

A theme that is central to the Maronite Liturgy is Jesus as the Light of the world and daily we invoke Mary as the Mother of the Light. On this Sixth Sunday of Lent, we recall Bartimaeus, the blind man who wanted to behold the Light of the world.

Jesus was on the way to celebrate his last Passover. He was traveling along the road to Jericho, a resort city, also known as the City of the Palms; this Jericho is to be distinguished from the old Jericho of Joshua. Jericho was fifteen miles from Jerusalem and every Jew living in the area was required to attend the Passover in Jerusalem. If they were unable to attend, they were required to stand along the sides of the roads and listen to the rabbis who taught as they passed by.

The Passover was a very tense one. Jesus was considered as a rebel, one who was preaching against the orthodox Judaism. He was now openly proceeding to Jerusalem, teaching as a rabbi. If what Jesus was teaching was true, the entire Temple worship was irrelevant. Jericho was filled with priests and Levites, who took turns in serving at the Temple. Naturally, they would be concerned about what Jesus had to say.

Jesus and the crowds around him were approaching the gate of the city, where a blind beggar was sitting. It was a good time to beg for alms because of the number of persons who walked by. The gospel gives his name as "Bartimaeus." Bartimaeus heard the tramping of feet and the noise of the crowd and asked who was passing by. When he heard that it was Jesus who was approaching, he began to shout and make noise in order to attract Jesus' attention. Everyone who was trying to listen to the Master was offended and tried to silence the beggar. But this was the only chance for the beggar: Jesus was passing by, and he wanted to escape from his world of darkness.

When Jesus indicated that he wanted to see what Bartimaeus wanted, the attitude of the crowd changed. They told the blind beggar, "Courage, get up. He is calling you." The beggar's response was immediate. He threw off his cloak and rushed to the Lord. In many ways, we are called to be like the beggar. Certain opportunities come only once. When the Lord calls us, we must throw off anything that will hinder us and run to Christ.

The blind man knew what he wanted; he wanted light. Not only was the beggar to receive the gift of sight from the Lord; he was also to receive the gift of inner light, the gift of faith. How courageous Bartimaeus was in his desire to seek the Light of the world. Many of us desire to remain in the darkness. Let us not allow the world to prevent us from seeking the Light, but let us cast aside all that hinders us and go to meet the Lord. "Through the rays of your light, we shall see the light, O Jesus, full of mercy."