Faith Daily | 27 May 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - PENTECOST APBA p522

O God, who taught the hearts of your faithful people

by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:

grant us by the same Spirit

to have a right judgement in all things,

and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;

through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,

who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Mark 10: 46-52

46They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: Allan Bell

Possibly some accounts of Jesus of Nazareth’s healing ministry, which are told earlier in Mark, had reached Jericho by this time and may have encouraged Bartimaeus to call out to Jesus. More importantly it seems he already believed that Jesus was the Son of David and he called for mercy from Jesus.

Have you ever come across a beggar? What was your reaction? I have found beggars, particularly around the entrances to places of worship in Europe, confronting. We hear that the crowd’s reaction that day in Jericho was to try to silence Bartimaeus, to hide what they the perceived as a problem or at least an interruption to Jesus and the disciples.

The reaction of Jesus is again counter cultural, immediate and clear: “Call him here” and he asks “What do you want me to do for you?”. Jesus is setting a standard for all present and also for us. His example shows compassion for someone who he discerns has faith.

This prompts Bartimaeus to ask Jesus for his sight. Asking in faith for help is the key. Jesus makes it clear that it is Bartimaeus’s faith that has healed him.

The messages for me in this passage are that to be more like Jesus we need to be compassionate to all we come across. In prayer, acknowledging and trusting in the compassion of God, we need to ask in faith for help when it is needed.

FINAL PRAYER: APBA p596

O God,

you give light to the blind and comfort to the sorrowing,

and in your Son you have given us

a High Priest who has offered the true sacrifice for us

and yet can sympathise with us in our weakness:

hear the cry of your people

and lead us home to our true country,

where with your Son and the Holy Spirit

you live ad reign, one God, in glory everlasting.

Amen