Some years ago, Pope Francis preached on this Sunday’s gospel (Mk 10:46-52), highlighting Bartimaeus’ great act of faith in recognising Jesus and calling to him to cure his blindness. Pope Francis goes on to observe parallels of modern behaviours in Jesus’ audience.

Some in the gospel story fail to hear the blind man’s cry, as some today don’t hear the cry of many in need of Jesus. Pope Francis criticises these as selfish people, living for themselves and unable to hear the voice of Jesus. Then there are those “who don’t hear, don’t want to hear the cry for help, but prefer to use the People of God, use the Church, to conduct their business”. Including disciples, some “hear this cry for help, but want to silence it, keeping Jesus for themselves; separate from those who cry out, who are in need of faith, who need salvation.” Modern examples are the “gatekeeper” excluders and those hypocritical exploiters who “instead of responding to the cry for salvation, push people away.”

But Pope Francis upholds another group “who help people to approach Jesus” saying to Bartimaeus: “Be brave, get up, he’s calling you!” Modern parallels are “Christians who are consistent between what they believe and what they live, who help people who cry out, asking for salvation, asking for grace, asking for spiritual health for their soul, helping them to get close to Jesus.”

The Pope concludes that, “each of us can answer in our heart, which group I am in: those deaf to cries of need, those pushing away the needy or those who hear the cry of so many people and help them to approach Jesus?” [Pope Francis, What kind of Christian are we? Thursday, 28 May 2015].

Deacon Mark Kelly