I was twenty one when I got spectacles for the first time. My ophthalmologist warned me that when I went outside into the bright sunshine to expect everything to be very sharp edged. “Remember, Mr Quigley, for most of your life you have been living in a fog.”

He was right. As soon as I walked outside I saw for the first time individual leaves in the sycamore trees that lined the street outside his consulting rooms. Before that day I saw only a general mass of green
foliage above a greyish brown trunk. I knew my eyesight was not as good as that of my Australian mates but I put that down to their being from the Bush and I was a migrant from tiny Ireland. The wide open spaces of Australia meant they had inherited the long distance eyesight that their forebears needed. Of course I was wrong and if I had not received
medical treatment I might have gone blind.

The blind beggar Bartimaeus of Jericho was not so blessed. His poor eyesight had
degenerated into blindness. Mark (10: 46-52) covers the story of Bartimaeus regaining his sight as vividly as any good news reporter. In fact Mark is a Good News reporter. Jesus’ reputation had preceded him and when Bartimaeus heard he was on his way out of Jericho, surrounded by an admiring throng, he cried out in desperation from the side of the road: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Being afflicted by the curse of blindness he was despised as someone out of favour with God. Many in the crowd told him to shut up. He was spoiling the occasion. But Jesus heard the cry of the poor man. “Call him here,” Jesus orders the mob. And to my surprise (and possibly to many in the mob) they pass on an embellished but encouraging form of Jesus’ request, ”Take heart; get up; he is calling you.”

Bartimaeus needed no second invitation. Throwing off his cloak he sprang to his feet and approached Jesus. Jesus asks Bartimaeus the same question he asked those ambitious brothers, James and John, in last week’s gospel, “What do you want me to do for you?” To which Bartimaeus, aware of his crushing defect, both physical and social, in utter humility and with complete faith prays: “My teacher, let me see again.” No vaunting ambition here.

“Go, your faith has made you well,” is Jesus’ response. Immediately Bartimaeus regained his sight - a miracle.

And followed Jesus on the way - a conversion to discipleship.

And taught us all a lesson in humble and faith-filled prayer.

Joe Quigley