No answer? Keep praying!

FROM A READING FOR OCT. 28, 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
‘Every high priest...is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people...” — Heb 5:2-3

(Editor’s note: Other readings for this Sunday include Jer 31:7-9 and Heb 5:1-6.)

In this Sunday’s Gospel (Mk 10:46-52), our Lord Jesus is continuing His ministry of healing and teaching. He encounters the blind son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus.

St. Mark explains in his Gospel that Bartimaeus has been sitting on the side of the road leading out of Jericho. Bartimaeus cannot see. He is left behind by so many who pass him by without giving him a second thought.

Yet, somehow, Bartimaeus hears about this man, Jesus. He learns of the mighty signs and wonders that this man from Nazareth, a wise rabbi without peer, has performed.

Bartimaeus knows that this Jesus, somehow, can heal him. He knows that this Jesus is somehow the long-awaited holy one of God.

When Jesus passes by, Bartimaeus sits on the side of the road, no doubt overshadowed by the crowd who have turned out to see Jesus. Bartimaeus wants Jesus. He cries out for Jesus, to Him — and he is shushed, quieted, rebuked by the crowd, told to be silent.

Never stop

However, Bartimaeus cries out all the more, louder and louder, until the master hears him. The wise and gentle Jesus hears him and stops, bidding him to come forward to him. Because of his persistence, because of his faith, Bartimaeus is healed and cured.

What can we learn from the example of blind Bartimaeus for growth in our prayer life? Simply this: Be persistent! Don’t give up, even when it may seem that we are getting no results!

What is prayer? According to the great father of the Church, St. John Damascene, “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God.”

There are four types of prayer

•  adoration (recognizing that God is God, we are not, and thank God for that);

•  contrition (saying we are sorry for our sins and those of the whole world);

•  thanksgiving (thanking God for everything in our lives, both the happy and the sad); and

•  supplication (pleading to God for our needs and wants, and those of others).

Go through motions

Sometimes, when we pray, we are filled with such great consolation. We can feel God’s presence. Other times, we feel nothing, simply like we’re going through the motions. But never forget that, even in the quiet, in the desolation, God is there. He is with us. He is listening.

God answers all of our prayers — but, sometimes, the answer is, “No, it’s not what’s best for us or others.” God answers all of our prayers — but, sometimes, the answer is, “Not yet.”

God, who hears all of our prayers, answers in His own time, not in ours. The key is to be like Bartimaeus: Even when we cannot see, keep on crying out. Don’t give up.

Jesus is passing by, a hundred times a day! Just keep on crying out; the Lord is listening!