Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Mark 10:46–52
Growing up, my family would hold hands and say grace before dinner. We'd pray the familiar, "Bless us, O Lord" and then go around saying our own prayers of thanksgiving and petition. During my 8th grade year, my aunt and her three children came to live with my family for six months. The prayers before dinner continued, with four more people praying. Almost every night, my aunt would pray for perseverance. At the time, I didn't fully understand the depth of this prayer or grasp the importance of it. But I have come to see that it is everything. It sustains us and carries us to the end.
Perseverance—the unwavering determination and resolution to achieve something despite difficulty or opposition—is vital to our faith life. In the letter to the Hebrews, we are exhorted to "run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1–2). But how do we do this? The answer lies in the Word of God and a willingness to beg: "To live, grow, and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith."[1]
Sunday's gospel offers us an incredible example of the perseverance of faith in the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar. But Bartimaeus is not begging for bread; he is pleading for something much greater. He cries out to Jesus to have pity on him and to restore his sight (Mark 10:47). Despite the crowd's attempt to silence him, Bartimaeus' voice is strengthened. His perseverance in faith and his begging of Jesus is rewarded. Through Jesus' very word, he is healed and given a true vision that allows him to follow Jesus on the way.
In Bartimaeus' cry, we glimpse the nature of true pity. Not merely sorrow but a feeling of deep compassion that is evoked in response to the suffering of others. This is Who we find in Jesus—a God-man whose heart is moved by our pain and afflictions, Who meets us with His gaze of mercy, Who does not disregard our condition but instead draws near to us.
Are we willing, then, to risk the judgment of others? To face scorn and rebuke in order to raise our voices all the louder and cry to our Lord: "Son of David, have pity on me" (Mark 10:48)?
Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me and my sinfulness.
Jesus, Son of David, see my struggle and free me from the chains of my current way of life.
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on my broken heart.
Jesus, Son of David, show compassion toward my illness.
Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me and my longing to be seen, my desire for greater faithfulness, and my struggle to trust fully in Your promises.
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on my impatience, my craving for human approval, and my pursuit of perfection.
Jesus, Son of David, free me from the fear of failure and the inability to surrender and let go.
Jesus, Son of David, be gentle toward me and help me to live in the present moment without anxiety from the past or fear of the future.
May we be given the gift of perseverance to cry out to our Lord and beg for healing. And when He heals the blindness of our hearts, may we rise with restored vision and faith that saves, throwing off our cloak and following Him on the way.
Food for thought or journaling...
Reflect on the areas of your life that need healing. Where do you need God's mercy? Write your own "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me" phrase that expresses your deepest desires.
Jesus, I beg You to have mercy on me. Draw near to me. Give me the gift of perseverance and strengthen my faith. Give me eyes to see and grit to run the race set before me.
[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition (Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2012), #162.