“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. “
To be said to ‘have vision’ is far more than just the reality of seeing with our eyes. Women and men of vision are individuals that see the possibilities in life and refuse to be limited by the challenges and stumbling blocks that are an inevitable part of our human journey through life.
PBS is presently airing a new documentary about the pioneering women of incredible vision, Helen Keller. Blind, deaf, and mute from birth, Helen, nevertheless, was a woman of vision and inspiration for all down through the ages, who wrestle with physical challenges but refuse to be defeated by them.
People of vision have a way of plunging the depth of their creativity so that even the physical limitations might not hinder their ability to live life fully and completely. They are a continuing inspiration to us who so often see the ordinary challenges and frustrations of daily life stumbling blocks to living a full life.
The beautiful Gospel story today of the blind Bartimaeus is a paradigm for all who wish to live life fully in Christ. Bartimaeus was not only gifted with the miracle of physical sight by the Lord of life but, far more important, he was gifted with the vision of faith in Jesus, whom he believed in his heart of hearts would free him from the darkness of physical blindness.
My friends, Jesus has come to gift each of us with the vision only faith can provide. While many of us are gifted with physical sight, sadly, the blindness of prejudice and hatred of our sisters and brothers can enslave us in the darkest of blindness, a moral myopia that no corrective lenses can fix. Such blindness of the heart can only be healed by the vision of faith that reverences the very presence of the living God in the hearts of our sisters and brothers.
As we approach the living Lord of life and love this day, let us make the prayer of Bartimaeus our own. Master, I want to see!