Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 5th Week of Lent: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 137:1 to 6 and Psalm 144; Evening, Psalm 42 and 43;
Exodus 10:21 to 11:8; 2nd Corinthians 4:13 to 18; Mark 10:46 to 52:
“So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” (Mark 10:50)
This is the healing story of blind Bartimaeus son of Timaeus who asks for his sight “again.” This means he once had sight, could see clearly. What is often kind of glossed over is Bartimaeus throwing off his cloak. Think about it, if you are blind you become well aware of keeping up with things so that you can put your hands on them again. I have my sight and still, I lose things all the time, my keys, my phone, my glasses, many things.
Bartimaeus, knowing he has the opportunity to stand (or kneel) before our Lord Jesus, throws off his cloak – his security blanket. He lets go of his “security blanket” knowing that being before Jesus will make all things new. He knew that having the attention of Jesus changes what he values. He wants to see again. Which means, he was once able to see but lost his sight.
The same is true for us today. The only way we can put our whole trust in our Lord Jesus is to let go of false security. Our Lord Jesus asks us today, What is it that we want Him to do for us?
Personally, I have been praying and asking for peace in Ukraine. I believe most Russian soldiers to be of the Russian Orthodox Christian faith. What will it take for Russian soldiers to see the error of their ways? Where is their moral sight now and how did they lose it? How is it that they place their security in the cloak of immoral leadership? I pray they fling it to the side and come to Jesus. I pray that they ask our Lord Jesus for their sight back. This is what I want Jesus to do for me. I want it for the people of Ukraine and the souls of the persecuting Russian soldiers. Do you think this is something our Lord Jesus can do – will do? I do.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 