Message from Campus Ministry
It must have been the happiest day in the life of Mister Bartimeus. He lived near Jericho, and he looked for his food by begging. You must understand - this Mr. Bartimeus was blind. He sat by the roadside, waiting for someone to pass by who might give him a crust of bread or something more substantial. He heard the crowd. Hope was growing - for he heard them say that it was Jesus passing by! Others had told him about Jesus - that Jesus helped people. He pushed his luck, and asked for a greater gift than a bowl of rice or anything to eat. He begged " I want to see!" People had told him that Jesus cured people. Saint Mark tell us in his Gospel that Jesus listened, said "Ok" and the blind man, Bartimeus, had vision for the first time in his life. He could see. It must have been the happiest day in the life of Bartimeus!
Most of the members of the RIS family have fairly good eyesight. We thank God for this blessing. We can see. Colorful flowers, a rainbow in the sky, smiling faces, even a bump in the road. We see them all. Smiling faces are the best, perhaps - for happy people make us want to be happy too. Bartimeus was happy, for now he could see.
We might have days similar to those of Bartimeus. Tough days, worries, serious problems hard to solve hit us hard. Jesus had times like that too. He knew what some people had lined up for him in Jerusalem. They planned to catch Him, beat Him up, and even kill Him on a cross. Those were worry-days, "blind days" for Jesus. We have tough days too.
That is why the story of Jesus doesn't stop there. The pages of the Gospels continue to give us hope, confidence, clear vision. Jesus died, it is true. But, then on the third day, like He said would happen, He came back to life. We call this day "Easter Sunday". It was the day of vision, troubles were gone, clear eyesight was restored. Jesus was full of life again.
On Easter Sunday Catholics and all people of Christian faith celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. It is the holiest day of the year. We celebrate with joy. Like Bartimeus, we might push our luck and ask for a big blessing at this time. We ask that our spiritual blindness caused by disappointments, discouragement, and daily crosses turn into blessings and joys instead.
We look for an "OK" from Jesus.
God bless you.
Father Leo Travis
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