“In a sense, all of us are blind. Some are blind because of choice. They may not want to see. They do not want to discover the truth, for whatever reason…. Nonetheless, because God has created us, He has given us, in our very nature, a longing for Him. So therefore, without realizing it, we may also be calling on to Him, like the blind man Bartimaeus.
Let us ask Him to cure our blindness. Let us pray for those around us…let us ask Jesus to open their eyes too and put in their hearts the desire to follow Him.”
- Excerpts from the homily of Mons. Carlos Estrada, Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines and Indonesia, during the Rite of Eucharistic Procession, Exposition, and Benediction held in UA&P on January 31, 2019
“There is an interesting detail. Jesus asks his disciples to go and call Bartimaeus. They address the blind man with two expressions, which only Jesus uses in the rest of the Gospel. First they say to him: ‘Take heart!’, which literally means ‘Have faith, strong courage!’ Indeed, only an encounter with Jesus gives a person the strength to face the most difficult situations. The second expression is ‘Rise!’, as Jesus said to so many of the sick, whom he took by the hand and healed. His disciples do nothing other than repeat Jesus’ encouraging and liberating words, leading him directly to Jesus, without lecturing him.
Jesus’ disciples are called to this, even today, especially today: to bring people into contact with the compassionate Mercy that saves. When humanity’s cry, like Bartimaeus’, becomes stronger still, there is no other response than to make Jesus’ words our own and, above all, imitate His heart. Moments of suffering and conflict are for God occasions of mercy. Today is a time of mercy!”
- Excerpts from the homily of His Holiness Pope Francis in the Holy Mass for the Closing of the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on October 25, 2015 in St. Peter’s Basilica
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