What does it mean to see?  There is not just physical sight, but there is “spiritual” sight as well.  While physical sight is desirable, spiritual sight is an absolute necessity for our salvation.

          The story of Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel can inspire us and give us hope when we, or someone we care about is in need of healing; from a serious illness, a disability, a troubled relationship, or troubled spirit.

          However, for some, this story may be just a bitter reminder that their prayers for healing have not been answered, so they believe. This story of Bartimaeus and all other healing stories in the Gospels may appear to be just a cruel joke, leaving us to wonder if divine healing only happens in the bible and wondering if these stories really have any meaning for us.  Well, I can personally say that that is not the case, but today’s Gospel story does have meaning for everyone of us if we realize that the story is not primarily about a miraculous healing, but that the story is primarily about hope— hope that is grounded in the belief that we are cared for by a loving God, not a distant God who looks down at us from a heavenly throne, but a personal God who wants to be a part of our lives- if only we invite him in.  Bartimaeus invited him in when he cried out in faith to Jesus.  And Jesus responded by abruptly stopping the procession.  He turned his attention away from his disciples and the crowd, and gave his full concentration to this lowly, blind beggar, as low on the social scale  as one could get.  This must have astonished his disciples and the crowd who had tried to quiet the beggar.  Here was Jesus bringing everything to a halt, in effect, saying to Bartimaeus, “You are important. You matter to me.”  This was the real miracle in the story.  This is the basis of our hope, that our all-powerful, all-mighty God sees each of us, not as insignificant and lowly, but as important and deserving of his compassion and love.

          Our compassionate and loving God wants us to be healed, and he will heal us if we come to him in faith, but that healing may not always be what we expect.  We have to be open for whatever form of healing God chooses for us.  He may touch us with a sudden miracle that cures our problem.  Or he may give us the patience and fortitude to deal with a long drawn out healing process.  Or he may give us the courage and strength to bear the burden of an illness or condition that won’t go away.  He may grant us the spiritual healing we need to accept death peacefully, at peace with God, with ourselves, and with those who are close to us. 

          And so as we pray and hope for healing for ourselves or for others, we must trust that God alone knows the healing that is best for each of us.  We must allow him to heal as he chooses, accepting his way, trusting always in his great love for us.

          That may be hard for us sometimes, because we forget that God knows all about human suffering.  God knows what we are going through.  This is a God who became one of us and has shared in our suffering.  He knows firsthand about pain and about feeling alone and abandoned.  So may our prayers be as filled with hope and faith as the prayer of Bartimaeus; hope and faith that the power of Christ will bring us healing and peace.

          One other question that today’s Gospel brings up is, “Why do we need to pray when God already knows what we need?”  It’s true that God already knows what we need, so why then did Bartimaeus have to as Jesus for help?  Any one present there, no doubt, would have thought it was obvious that the man wanted Jesus to restore his sight, but yet, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And when he answered, “Master, let me see again.” Jesus cured him.  Jesus already knew everything about the man, he didn’t need to be told that Bartimaeus needed his sight restored, but, yet, he still asked.  And likewise, Bartimaeus didn’t need to tell Jesus, but telling Jesus, was preparing Bartimaeus’ heart for the gift of sight being restored.  Prayer is not about informing God what our needs are.  He doesn’t need our prayers to keep him up to date about what’s happening in our lives.  Instead, prayer is for our benefit, not God’s. Prayer is to prepare our heart for whatever God wishes to give us.  Prayer is an opportunity for us to listen to God. 

          So what did Bartimaeus do after having his sight restored?  He followed Jesus along the road.  In the Gospels when we read that someone followed Jesus, it means he became a disciple of Jesus.  Jesus had 12 Apostles, but he had many disciples. All these disciples and followers of Jesus listened to his teaching and allowed it to change their lives. So the healing of Bartimaeus was really only the beginning of his journey following Jesus, being a disciple and learning from Jesus.  Bartimaeus did not just pray to have his sight restored and then disappear to lead a normal life.

          So praying for what we need is only a part of our relationship with God.  Our whole life is to be a prayer to God, because our whole life should be about following Jesus, being a disciple of Jesus.  If we only pray when we’re in a crisis, we’re really not even Christian.  Prayer is a way of living.  A way of following Jesus on the road. 

          Notice the way in which Bartimaeus made his request of Jesus.  First he said, “Have pity on me.” Then secondly, he said, “Let me see again.”  Bartimaeus already had the grace from God to know that what he needed most was deeper than just a restoration of sight.  His deepest need was for spiritual healing, a far deeper need than his need for physical healing.  So he asked for spiritual healing, which he, no doubt, received, then he asked for and received physical healing.

          Sometimes, we pray for what we want, and God gives us what we need.  What we want is not always what we need, so God in his provident mercy gives us what we need.

          Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “your faith has saved you.” Bartimaeus was a person of faith and not a person who prayed when only in a crisis to get what he wanted from God.  He had a deep relationship with God, and with that faith, God first answered his deepest needs, his need for salvation, a far greater need than his need for physical sight.  It reminds me of the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 6:33.  “Seek the Kingdom of God first, and all these other things will be given to you as well.”  Bartimaeus sought the Kingdom of God first, God’s mercy, and this other, insignificant thing, his physical sight, was given to him as well.

          So, as we pray for our needs, let us also pray for the grace to understand what God wants for us.