Are You Blind?

Healing of the Blind Bartimaeus

30th Sunday Ordinary Time

Fr. Mark Gatto

Preached: October 27, 2024

In what ways are you blind?  We will only see again if we realize that we are blind. Often we do not see ourselves with honesty. Poor Bartimaeus was a broken man, a beggar sitting on the side of the road. He was humble enough to recognize that he needed conversion, that his blindness was an obstacle to fullness of life. So, he calls out to Jesus, “have mercy on me.” When Jesus asks him what he wanted him to do for him, the response of Bartimaeus is, “let me see again.”

Do we realize that we are blind in some way? Are we ready to go to Jesus and ask to see again? Going to the Sacrament of Confession is only meaningful if we are willing to see again in a new way. If we are willing to honestly look within ourselves and to change if that is needed.

True spirituality is about seeing in a new way. A real encounter with Jesus leads us to see in a new way. We see the world in a new way, we see others in a new way, we see ourselves in a new way. Do you want conversion, to grow spiritually? Then go home today and see everyone in a new way, see everything in a new way.

How are we blind at times and need to see in a new way? Think of the married person who is having an affair, often they do not see the harm they are doing and are blind to what they are doing. They need conversion, to see in a new way.

Think of the politician or business person who is being corrupt, they often justify what they are doing, they are blind to the harm of their behaviour. They need conversion, to see in a new way.

Think of any one of us involved in vicious gossip that tears down the reputation of another person. We need conversion, to see in a new way.

Think of people in broken relationships because of greed and fighting over money. We are often blind to our own greed and the harm it causes. We need conversion, to see in a new way.

Think of the way we look at others, perhaps those of another religion. Are we blind to the prejudice in how we see others? We need conversion, to see in a new way. You can easily think of many other examples of how we can be blind and need to see in a new way.

Before going to Confession, ask Jesus to help you to see again. Go and see everyone and everything in a new way. St. Teresa of Avila would say that “Authentic prayer changes us – unmasks us.” Our prayer, our relationship with Jesus, is meaningful if it leads us to see ourselves honestly. If it deepens our self awareness so that we see in a new way and are ready to change.

If you met Jesus right now, what blindness would you need to have Jesus heal? Who would you need to see in a new way? What would you need to see in a new way? The blind beggar Bartimaeus asked for only one thing, “let me see again.” Do we really want to see again? To see the truth about myself? Any true spirituality is about seeing in a new way. This Mass is important if we go home from here and see the people in our lives in a new way, if I see myself in a new way.

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