blind faith
"Be on your way. Your faith has healed you." —Mark 10:52
The blind beggar Bartimaeus had faith, and Jesus immediately healed him of blindness (Mk 10:52). Bartimaeus expressed his faith in Jesus vocally, publicly, and repeatedly, even after he was scolded and told to keep quiet (Mk 10:47-48).
Bartimaeus also expressed his faith when "he threw aside his cloak, jumped up and came to Jesus" (Mk 10:50). When a blind man throws away his cloak, he had better be healed, or he may never find his cloak. Moreover, a cloak was worth much more in Biblical times, for it was used as collateral and shelter (Dt 24:12-13).
Bartimaeus expressed his faith by fearlessly (Mk 10:49) coming to Jesus (Mk 10:50), accepting Jesus as his Rabboni, that is, Teacher (Mk 10:51), and following Jesus, that is, becoming His disciple (Mk 10:52).
To please God, we must live in faith (Heb 11:6). To live for Jesus and to love Him with all our hearts, we need faith. To move mountains (Mt 17:20) and to conquer the world, we must have faith (1 Jn 5:5). To accept the grace of salvation, we must have faith (Eph 2:8). Have faith as Bartimaeus had faith.
Prayer: Lord, I have faith. Help my lack of faith (Mk 9:24, our transl).
Promise: "They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them." —Jer 31:9
Praise: Praise Jesus of Nazareth (Mk 10:47), Son of David (Mk 10:47, 48), Rabboni (Mk 10:51), "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25), Lord, and God!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Hold Fast to the Faith on audio AV 71-1 or on video V-71.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 20, 2015
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