A challenge faced by anyone who takes an interest in the Word of God is that it is not always easy to understand. Therefore, it is crucial to seek out groups, books, and gatherings that can help us grasp the meaning of this beautiful and awe-inspiring book. The Bible is how God speaks to us today; it is not merely a record of events from the past but is the living Word of God. For those who approach it with faith and genuine interest, it offers God’s message for them—a message that illuminates their life in whatever circumstances they may find themselves.
In today's first reading, one might struggle to understand it without knowing its historical background. The Prophet Jeremiah is speaking to God’s people who are in exile. In 587 BC, Babylon, a great kingdom of that time, attacked the kingdom of Judah, destroyed it, and, after killing many of the people, dragged the rest into exile. Jeremiah uses the words of today’s reading to encourage the people, assuring them that God would bring them back and save them:“...a great throng shall return here. They will come back weeping, but I will console them and lead them. I will guide them to streams of water, along smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am a father to Israel...”
“Proclaim, praise, and announce: The Lord has saved His people, the remnant of Israel.” This salvation foretold by the Prophet finds its ultimate fulfilment not when the people returned from exile, but when God sent His Son to save the world. True salvation is not from an external enemy but from the worst enemy of all, one that resides within man: sin. Sin makes a person the worst kind of slave, a slave to oneself. God’s Word explains this beautifully in today’s Gospel.
In the eyes of the people, Bartimaeus was not only blind but also a sinner. The prevailing belief was that God rewarded the good with good things and punished the wicked. Bartimaeus sat by the roadside as the crowd passed by, showing how difficult his life was—not only because he was blind and unable to sustain himself but also because he was judged by others. It was a hopeless situation; the best he could do was wait for someone to take pity on him and offer a small coin. But no one could lift him out of his desperate plight. Bartimaeus represents humanity enslaved by sin.
Yet something extraordinary happened—something no one had dreamed could happen: Jesus passed by. Bartimaeus believed that Jesus could give him what the world could not.“What do you want me to do for you?”“Master, I want to see again.”Jesus’ power—He alone can set humanity free—and Bartimaeus’ faith in Him delivered him from the darkness of his blindness. Just as only Jesus could heal the blind, only Jesus can free us from sin if we recognise its destructive power and believe that He alone can save us. The great problem of our time is that often people are content to live blind, sitting by the roadside, enslaved by their sins.
There are two striking details in this Gospel. Firstly, the people who initially tried to silence Bartimaeus later encouraged him. Similarly, in our lives, we should not lose heart like Bartimaeus when the world tries to stop us from approaching the Lord. Secondly, Bartimaeus cast off his cloak before approaching Jesus. The cloak symbolises the opinions of others. Sometimes, when we feel the Lord calling us to change our lives, we fear what others will say when they see us act differently. We should pray for the courage of Bartimaeus—to cast off the weight of others’ opinions and draw close to the only one who can truly save us. Let us ask ourselves: How much effort do I make to listen to and learn from the Word of God? Do I truly believe that God speaks to me through His Word? Am I convinced that sin is my greatest enemy, one that enslaves me like Bartimaeus? Do I have genuine faith in Jesus, who alone can grant me true freedom?
We pray, Lord, kindle in our hearts a love for Your Word, and help us believe that only You can free us from our greatest enemy—if only we believe in You with sincerity. Amen.