Know, Persist and Trust

Homily: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 10:46-52

24 October 2021

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA 

I have a friend who is a shopaholic. She loves to walk around the malls and hunt for great deals. When there is a mall wide sale, she spends hours buying all sorts of things she fancies and insists she needs but when she gets home, she tends to have buyer’s remorse.  You’d think this pandemic would have slowed her down but no. She is now into online shopping. (Palaging tumutunog ang doorbell nila dahil sa delivery.) However, she behaves differently when she really wants something. When she is buying something she really wants, she will patiently search for that item until she finds it. She will spend hours combing through the shops in a mall, (now online), to look for it.   Pre-pandemic, her tired companions would chide her to get the next best thing but she would rather come home empty handed than purchase a substitute. When she knows what she wants, she will patiently save up for the item, no matter how expensive, wait for the opportunity to purchase it and will settle for no less. 

In the gospel this Sunday, we encounter Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, sitting at the side of the road as Jesus makes His way to Jerusalem.  He is ecstatic when he senses Jesus is nearby. He calls out to Him persistently, making such a racket that Jesus stops and asks him what he wanted. “What do you want me to do for you?” We recall a similar question asked by Jesus in relation to the request of James and John in last Sunday’s gospel passage. Bartimaeus asks Jesus for the gift of eyesight. “Master, I want to see.” (Mark 10:51) He does not flinch. He does not stutter. He does not take a moment to think it over. He knows exactly what he wanted from Jesus and he asks with full confidence and boldness.  The crowd rebuked him but Bartimaeus continued to call out to Jesus for healing. In his determination, he was not put off easily by those who wanted to silence him and his persistence was rewarded. 

There are three things we ought to learn from this story. First — know what you want. Second — be persistent.  Third — trust in God’s providence. 

Bartimaeus was blind and he knew that he wanted to see more than anything else. He wanted to be whole again! In those days, beggars would spread out their cloaks so they would be able to collect alms. We are told that Bartimaeus threw the only possession he had aside in order to respond to the call of Jesus. He approaches Jesus with nothing, leaving behind the alms he collected for the opportunity to ask what he wanted from the man who could give it.  Do you know what you would ask for if Jesus also asked you what you really want? Oftentimes, we want so much, not knowing if these are what we need or if it will be good for us. We even pray for the wrong things and wonder why God does not grant what we ask for. We tend to be overwhelmed by what the material world can offer — riches, fame and power, that we tend to lose sight of what is essential. It is by living mindfully and taking time to reflect on our life that we can determine what it is we really need. Know what you want. 

Second, be persistent. Bartimaeus’ resolve represents our tenacity to pursue what we want even in the face of opposition. Bartimaeus would not have received what he wanted if he simply gave in to the crowd’s pressure and stopped calling out on Jesus. Often when we pray, we expect an immediate answer and we grumble and get discouraged when God doesn’t seem to be listening. The key is to be persistent. Jesus, Himself, says, ask, seek, knock. (Matthew 7:7) He doesn’t say do it just once. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds us to pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18) 

Finally, the passage teaches us to trust in God’s providence. Bartimaeus had faith that Jesus could heal him, so he asks boldly and believed that Jesus would be merciful to him. When you ask of Jesus, do you believe He can answer your prayer? Some of the faithful say that when they pray for something, they “claim it.” We must, however be prepared to wait patiently. Sometimes, our prayer will be granted in minutes, sometimes it takes a week, sometimes it will take years. God sees through space and time and he knows how everything in the universe interacts. His timing is always best. We have to trust in the Giver of the grace!

When Jesus asks us the question, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51), it is not on the same level as a waiter asking our order at a restaurant or a saleslady asking what we are buying. It is an opportunity we should never pass up. It is God asking! God, whose power is unfathomable, whose greatness is immeasureable and whose mercy is endless who asks of us what He can do for us. God’s love for us is so deep and personal that He opens the heavens to rain graces on us, even on those who reject Him. Let us know what we want. Let us ask Him persistently and be prepared to wait. Let us have faith in God’s providence and His love for us.