Bartimaeus

        In this gospel reading we hear the story of Blind Batimaeus begging for Jesus’ attention and mercy so that he would be healed from his blindness. It is good to be mindful of the situation of this lowly beggar. He was sitting at the roadside…jaon ra tawon sa kilid nan dayan nagpungko. Mura kabahin sa mga tawo na tagtawag na “marginalized person”. Sauna sa gagmay pa kita, tagtudloan kita na kun magsuyat gani jaon gajod ton margin. An margin bagan way labot na sa tibuok na papel, art-art ra kibali dakan plastado ato pagsuyat sanan gana tan-awon. Dili na nato suyatan an margin kay jaon naman sa kilid, waya nay labot kibali hampan dili sab maradjaw na jaon na sa kilid an suyat. 

          We could somehow imagine how Bartimaeus lived his life. A person who is marginalized, insignificant, less important… May I allow you to hear the deafening shouts of Batimaues. Sa kahamuk na tawo, nadunggan pa gajod sija ni Jesus. It is mentioned in the gospel that people scolded him to make him keep silent… but he shouted all the more… “Jesus, Son of David… have pity on me!!!...” waya sija manumbaling sa mga tawo, nagpadajon sija nan suminggit… we could somehow understand him because for all his life, his was always silent at the corner. Nobody cared for him. He was no ‘voice’ in his own community. 

        But what caught my attention on this gospel pericope is Jesus’ act of mercy. Ang Ginoo nga nanumbaling niining tawo nga walay bili atubangan sa mga mata sa katawhan. (Here I remember the words of Mary… My soul proclaims the greatness of the LORD… for He has looked with favor on his lowly servant.) The God who cares so much for this lowly, rejected and insignificant creature and ask… What do you want me to do for YOU?... What a very personal and intimate gesture of Jesus… God loves us so much that even how ‘ordinary’ we are he continuously shows his mercy on us. Andam Siya kanunay nga mulinggi ug mutanaw kanato sa bisan unsa nga sitwasyon sa kinabuhi.

               God meets us where we are… 

               Is it not good news for all of us?