In the midst of a city such as Alcoa it is difficult to get a glimpse of true darkness. Even in the middle of nowhere we may get a good look at the stars at night, but this is still not true darkness. If you want a true glimpse into darkness take a trip into a cave, turn off your flashlight, and then you will know what it feels like to be submerged into complete darkness.
Light and darkness are a common theme throughout scripture. Light is attributed to virtue and being held into relationship with God. Darkness is attributed to sin and the death that it brings into one’s life. Darkness becomes blindness because through it one is unable to see the light which is meant to be seen. There can be nothing worse then being thrust into the darkness of sin and the blindness that it brings unto the soul. If we were to be thrust into the darkness of a cave we would long for the light which we once knew, but it would be difficult to find our way out. Once light is cast upon the situation we will then be given guidance to the path which we must take.
In our Gospel we are actually given the name of the man who was healed from his blindness, Bartimaeus. This name reveals to us that he is the son of Timaeus. Saint Augustine concludes that he came from great influence, but lost all that he had when he became blind. When we encounter him he would be placed along the wall leading out of Jericho. This was a good spot because this was a busy path which many would cross as they would make their way to Jerusalem.
Jesus passes along this path for He is making His way to Jerusalem and there He will be welcomed and then crucified. As we pray in the Stations of the Cross: “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.”
These words are most true because by the Holy Cross of our Lord we have been redeemed and have been allowed to have the light of Christ shine brightly in the midst of the darkness of sin. To think of this man cast out of the community and lowered to the necessity of begging all because he could not see. Thankfully he had faith in Christ and was willing to shout out to Him in his faith in order that he may be healed. Even when voices raised in protest he was still willing to cry out all the louder from the midst of his faith: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
From our encounter with Bartimaeus we are given a reminder of the importance of seeing the light of Christ, we are given a reminder of the richness that come from faith, and we are being taught of our need to shout out loudly above all those voices which seek to ruin our relationship with the Lord.
