Go your way; your faith has saved you

Mk 10:46-52

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.

~*~*~*~

this was the Gospel message this weekend and it struck me in so many ways - the homily did not align very much with the Gospel, but it did not matter. it still left me seeking out the Scripture more to see what God has in mind for me in this, and i know this is deep, but i know i was meant to hear it and hear it at today's Mass.

the parts i felt the most moved by are highlighted in different colors...bartimaeus recognizing who Jesus is by calling Him "Son of David" (Messianic greeting)...bartimaeus is desirous of healing, is told to be quiet by the disciples, but persists...Jesus (seemingly) doesn't respond with his first cry out, but does with the second and when he learns of Jesus wanting to see him, bartimaeus leaps to his feet - not rises, but springs to his feet, throws aside anything that hinders him to run to his Savior to ask for healing.

perhaps throwing aside his old self, running toward the new?

Jesus is pointed in asking bartimaeus what he desires - bartimaeus is clear in what he wants from Jesus, and it is simple: to see You. his (b's) faith is what has saved him.

active participation in the call that Jesus had on his life, and now that his faith had saved him, bartimaeus continued along the journey as one of Jesus' disciples.

persistence
the old, cast aside
profession of faith
following Jesus

how much simpler could it be?

do i have the courage to cast aside my old self and simply put my head down and follow Jesus, no matter the cost? or should i continue to kick against the goads, act like the petulant brat that i truly am on the inside and kick and scream along the way? sure, i am persistent in prayer, but why is it i am so reluctant to throw aside my "cloak" and spring to my feet?

active participation in our own healing...how blind am i? how long do i wish to stay in the darkness? we all need to decide whether or not we will throw aside our cloaks; not the least of which, me.