Gospel Commentary: A Profound Lesson on Prayer

By Fr. John De Celles
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of  10/23/03)

In today’s text from St. Mark, the blind Bartimaeus calls Jesus "Master." This is an unfortunate translation of the original Greek text, which records that the actual Aramaic word Bartimaeus used was rabbouni, usually translated as "rabbi" or "teacher." Thus, this is not only a story about a miracle, but also a great lesson from the "Teacher," a profound lesson on prayer.

First, Jesus teaches that prayer is "response to his presence." Scripture tells us that Bartimaeus was sitting on the side of the road when he discovered he was in the presence of Jesus. Jesus comes to us — we are in his presence — at all times and in all places. But we must respond to his presence. So, just as it was necessary for Bartimaeus to call out to Him: "Jesus, Son of David ... !" we also must call out to Him in prayer. In fact, since he is always present to us, we must never let a chance to pray pass us by.

Next, Jesus teaches us that prayer requires faith. Scripture tells us that Bartimaeus literally leaps at the opportunity for Christ to heal him. He’s heard about Jesus, and whether in religious zeal or desperate surrender, he has faith that Jesus can somehow help him, and cries out to Him in faith. Faith moves us to prayer, and prayer is an act of faith.

Then, notice that Jesus doesn’t immediately respond to Bartimaeus’s prayer. Here he teaches us a lesson on the need for perseverance in prayer when it seems to go unanswered, or when others discourage from praying ("many rebuked him, telling him to be silent"). Still we persevere because we know that God will, in his own time, answer us. We know that God is, above all, a God of mercy. And so Bartimaeus "kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’" And in His boundless mercy Jesus does answer.

This leads to His next lesson — prayer often involves not just the person praying and God, but prayer involves others. At first Jesus doesn’t speak directly to Bartimaeus, but tells those around Him to "Call him." At so they go to Bartimaeus and say, "get up, Jesus is calling you." As Christians we are supposed to call others to prayer — parents must teach their children to pray; friends must remind each other to pray; and priests must call the whole Church to prayer. And then, we who hear the invitation must respond with eagerness, just as Bartimaeus who "threw aside his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus."

But when we pray, what do we ask for? When Jesus asks him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus responds by first calling Jesus "Rabbouni" — "Teacher." When we pray we must first recognize that Christ is not like a candy machine — put in the coin, and He gives you whatever you select. No, Jesus is the one who knows and teaches us what is best for us. In prayer, first recognize that God knows what you need even more than you do, and then ask Him for what you want.

Finally, the story of Bartimaeus teaches us that when Jesus answers our prayers, we must respond to His answer. We do that as Bartimaeus did, by believing and doing what he asks of us: "Immediately he … followed him on the way."

Maybe this is just another story about Jesus’ miraculous powers. Or maybe it is a profound lesson in the mystery of prayer from the one we call Teacher — Rabbouni.

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