Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 24, 2021
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
“Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
“Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
Being an elementary school teacher during a pandemic, I felt like I related to Bartimaeus’ situation. Presumptuously, I drew parallels between us. I believed I needed healing, guidance, and a sign like the ones God used to do in the Old Testament that would tell me if I was still on the right path. I focused on the misery of each day. I felt spiritually blinded by my worries.
“Ms. Kapples, you’re muted.”
“Ms. Kapples, I knocked over the iPad that has the Zoom.”
“Ms. Kapples, my mask broke.”
“Ms. Kapples, this word problem is impossible.”
The list of new challenges felt limitless, but one day I regained my spiritual sight when my 2nd graders were preparing to lead our school mass. I was helping them with the readings when I remembered Bartimaeus’s suffering was not meant to start a pity party. His physical and mental suffering demonstrates the strength of his faith. Whatever his circumstances, he never suffered from a lack of belief. It was unblemished and unshakable.
With all the parallels I had crafted between us, I had overlooked his striking acts of faith. He not only believed that Christ could heal him, but also that Christ would hear his call for help. Bartimaeus persisted even when crowds told him to be quiet. He didn’t allow anything to prevent him from reaching Jesus and being healed.
Can I say the same? Was my faith these past two years unshakeable?
Let us take Bartimaeus’ example into our own lives. Despite all the suffering we witness or experience, let it propel us towards Jesus. May our faith be a catalyst for action so that we may receive Christ’s healing.
Prayer
Lord, Like Bartimaeus, the blind man,
We stand in deep need of your healing grace in our lives.
And yet, unlike him,
We often let our shame prevent us from calling out to you.
Grant us the courage and faith of Bartimaeus
So that in our need we might cry out to you all the more
And thus experience your healing and saving presence. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Anthony Mary Claret led a colorful life as a popular preacher in Spain and Archbishop of Cuba, even surviving an assassination attempt and then pleading for the life of his attacker.
Anthony was born in Spain in 1807, the son of a weaver. He grew up practicing his father’s trade, and studied Latin and printing in his spare time. At the age of 22, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1835.
He had a desire to serve in the foreign missions, but his health failed and he was encouraged to focus his efforts on evangelizing the people of his native Spain. He began to preach parish missions and give retreats throughout his home region.
His zeal inspired other priests. He gathered a number together and established a new religious order, the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who are now known as Claretians. The order spread through Spain and beyond.
Soon after this success, he was appointed Archbishop of Santiago, Cuba. It was difficult work reforming the Church in Cuba, which had fallen into disorder, and he encountered deep resistance. In fact, on several occasions, he was nearly assassinated.
In one case, a man seriously wounded Anthony because he blamed him for the loss of his mistress, who had converted her life and left him. Anthony interceded for the man in court, however, and saved him from a death sentence.
In 1857, Anthony returned to Spain to serve the queen. He refused to reside in the court, however, and spent as much time as he could preaching to ordinary people and spreading good reading literature throughout his home region. He is responsible for founding Barcelona’s Libreria Religiosa, now known as the Claret Library, which played a large role in preserving and enhancing Catholic culture in Spain.
Anthony preached 10,000 homilies and published more than 200 books or pamphlets to teach the faith. While in charge of an institution of higher education, he established science laboratories, a museum of natural history, as well as schools of music and languages.
Beyond his impressive intellect, Anthony gave his heart to God. As he grew in holiness, he was given the gifts of prophecy and healing, and his prayer often placed him in ecstasy and rapture.
At the end of his life, he was exiled with the queen to Rome. He did not cease his ministry, however, and he attended the first Vatican council and helped to define the teaching of papal infallibility. He died on this date in 1870.
St. Anthony Mary Claret is patron saint of those who work with textiles and in the Catholic press. His relics rest in the Basilica reliquary chapel.
St. Anthony Mary Claret, you supported the Catholic press and are the spiritual father of Cuba—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Anthony Mary Claret is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed October 4, 2024.