杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Leo XIV used his catechesis at Wednesday鈥檚 General Audience to highlight 鈥渁nother essential aspect of the life of Jesus, namely, His healings.鈥�

The Holy Father reflected on the Gospel account of the healing of a blind man, Bartimaeus, who cried out to Jesus as He passed through the city of Jericho on the way to Jerusalem.

Their meeting place, the 杏MAP导航 said, was significant, as Jesus was beginning His journey below sea level and ascending to the Holy City. Jesus鈥� journey prefigures His passage to the underworld, where He went after His death 鈥渢o bring back that Adam who fell to the bottom and represents each of us.鈥�

The name of the blind man, Bartimaeus, is likewise significant as representing one who has failed to live up to his calling. The 杏MAP导航 noted that the name can be interpreted as 鈥渟on of honour or admiration,鈥� whereas the blind man has been reduced to begging by the side of the street.

杏MAP导航 Leo emphasized that Bartimaeus knows how to cry out for help, even when reproached by the crowd; and, although he is blind, 鈥渉e sees better than others because he recognizes who Jesus is.鈥�

Jesus responds to his cry because, as the 杏MAP导航 reminded us, 鈥淭here is no cry that God fails to hear, even when we are not aware we are addressing Him.鈥�

However, the 杏MAP导航 noted, Jesus does not go to Bartimaeus but calls him to Himself. Bartimaeus, for his part, must 鈥渃ast off his cloak,鈥� giving up his security in order to allow himself to be healed.

鈥淢any times, it is precisely our securities that stand in our way鈥� 杏MAP导航 Leo said. Like the blind man, we must appear before Christ with all our vulnerabilities exposed; 鈥渢his is a fundamental step in any journey of healing.鈥�

Finally, the Holy Father draws attention to Jesus鈥� question, 鈥淲hat do you want Me to do for you鈥�; and Bartimaeus鈥� response: 鈥淟et me recover my sight.鈥� His answer, which can also mean 鈥渢o look up,鈥� shows that the blind man desires not only to see again, but to 鈥渞egain his dignity.鈥�

鈥淎t times,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Leo said, 鈥減eople are stuck because life has humiliated them, and they just want to find their worth again.鈥�

He recalled that, like Bartimaeus, we are all saved by faith. 鈥淛esus heals us so that we can become free. And though the Lord does not call Bartimaeus to follow Him, he freely choses to do so, 鈥渢o follow Him Who is the Way!鈥�

杏MAP导航 Leo concluded his catechesis by inviting the faithful to confidently place before Jesus our own infirmities, those of our loved ones, and the pain 鈥渙f those who feel lost and without a way out.鈥�

鈥淟et us cry out for them, too,鈥� he said, in the certitude 鈥渢hat the Lord will hear us and stop.鈥�