Backup
“‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:47).
I have been reflecting on the story of Bartimaeus, who was the blind beggar who was healed by Christ…
“Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means ‘son of Timaeus’), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So they called to the blind man, ‘Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.’ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Jesus asked him. The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’ ‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (Mark 10:46-52).
There is so much beauty in that story. My favourite line in all of Sacred Scripture is written in that story, “‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:47). I often imagine that during the Final Judgement at the end of time when I stand before my Beloved, this will be my own cry, “‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:47). I will be the blind beggar.
At that time, I will be the one being asked to cast off my cloak (my security) and rely instead only on the Mercy of God. After all, there is nothing that I could ever do for myself or for God that could ever afford me the benefit of Heaven. Even if I were to decide today that I would never sin again (I do decide such things multiple times a day and yet lack the fortitude to actually bring this desire to fruition) I could not merit Heaven. And the reason that I could not merit Heaven is because I am a sinful soul. I was conceived with Original Sin staining my soul and due to my fallen nature, even through the Sacrament of Baptism, which allows me to be brought into the Eternal family of God as His child, I have no way to atone to God for the terrible burden of sin.
You see, God, who is Infinite Mercy is also Perfect Justice. And Perfect Justice demands that I offer a sacrifice equal to the sin to make atonement for it. The only sacrifice that is sufficient for this purpose, or equal to sin, is the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Thus, I know that I am never able to merit Heaven through my own actions, thoughts or words or deeds because I am not the Perfect Victim, Priest and Altar as Christ is – in other words, only Christ, who is perfect in His nature, is able to offer a perfect sacrifice. And Christ – out of love for me – lays down His life for this lost sheep.
Now, as I was reflecting on this story of Bartimaeus, I have been reflecting on what it meant that he threw his cloak off and stood up. You see, in those days, a beggar was provided with a licence to beg, which was displayed by the cloak they wore. By throwing away his cloak, what Bartimaeus was really doing was throwing away his licence to beg.
How beautiful is that? Without seeing Christ, without having a miracle in hand, Bartimaeus was so convinced – through faith in God’s power – that he left it all behind. He did not look back. He did not hold the cloak as a backup plan if things did not work out. If his hunch that Christ was the answer was wrong, then he had no way to take things back and put things back the way that they had been before. The cloak was gone in the crowds.
Bartimaeus was coming out of that encounter a changed man. Nothing would be as it was before. That is how great his faith was…
And I have been reflecting on that today. For it seems to me that in the Final Judgement when I call out to my Beloved, “‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Mark 10:47), I might very well be clutching a cloak. And that would be the most terrible outcome of all…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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