We are now at the heart of the Gospel of Mark and a long journey has been made.

Who is the disciple of the Lord Jesus? The term “disciple” has appeared frequently in the readings from Mark’s Gospel we have reflected on in recent Sundays.

The disciples question who Jesus is. They are deaf to the announcements of His Passion and Resurrection—the very core of His message of love. They seem more preoccupied with figuring out who among them is the greatest. They attempt to prevent others—those not of their group—from using Jesus’ name to cast out demons. They seek the best positions and are astonished by the assertion that salvation is difficult.

Today, as we join the crowd leaving Jericho for Jerusalem, the icon of the disciple is embodied by blind Bartimaeus, an “outcast” condemned by his blindness to a life of immobility and begging. He is not yet a disciple, but like the twelve, he has a name —and notably, he is the only person in Mark’s Gospel to be named in a healing story. He is acutely aware of his lack—his sight—but he does not dwell on his misfortune. Instead, he recognizes what he still possesses: a strong voice, keen hearing, and nimble legs.

Bartimaeus is a man -he is “the” man- capable of desire, driven by the humility to ask for help.

He cries out, “Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me!” His prayer is insistent, undeterred by the crowd's rebukes. It is the prayer Jesus is talking about, insistent because it is confident, full of trust, coming from a sincere heart and addressed to the sincere and good heart of the Son of David.

Jesus' response is a call: “Call him!” This is reminiscent of the calls He made to Simon, Andrew, James, John, and Levi. Each of those called left behind their nets, boats, or tax booths. Bartimaeus, however, leaves behind his cloak—the only possession he has—jumps up, and makes his way to Jesus, perhaps stumbling along the way, but he moves forward nonetheless. And that is enough.

Now Bartimaeus stands before Jesus. He cannot meet Jesus’ gaze, but he feels it on him and senses it deep in his heart, and hears a question addressed to him. The one every man would like to hear, “What do you want me to do for you?”. To see again, to see in depth, to see what is essential to see.

And so it happens: "And immediately he saw again."

Salvation lies entirely here, in the ability to see the same things again with renewed hope that comes from experiencing the compassion of a God who reveals himself as a loving father.

Bartimaeus' trust is placed in Jesus, who welcomes it and answers it. He is a new disciple, like the others: he belongs to the Way (Acts 9:2) and follows the One he has met and seen.