Then they came to Jericho And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.
When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
This Gospel passage from Sunday's Mass is interesting for two things:
1. The blind guy's name Bar -Timaeus is Jewish/Greek hybrid - and the author tosses in "the son of Timaeus" for all of us helots.
2. The blind guy calls out "Jesus, Son of David" which was a real messianic apellation. Unlike King David - the Son of David is a healer and savior.
King David was a thug in many ways. As King he abused his authority - or maybe that is actually what kings are supposed to do - by tossing Uriah into the front ranks and ensure that poor slob gets killed. Old Dave gets Uriah's Missus. Bathsheba.
Jesus appears - not to the bling guy of course -in Jerico and the bling Bartimaeus begs Jesus for sight.
He is given sight.
Father Gallagher, at Sacred Heart Church 8:30 A.M. yesterday, explained how the story of Bartimaeus was used in the early Christiam Church to enhance the beauty of Baptism - we are blind like Bartimaeus until the sight of saving Grace restores us to true vision.
Then we get so damn busy and making excuses and walking right past people who really suffer. We have vision, but are blind as bats.
Hell, I'm nearly as blind as Old Barty.
Son David, let me see.
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