Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”

This is Luke’s account of the healing of blind Bartemeus. His name is not mentioned in this reading, but it is widely held that this is the same blind man. Mark’s version has much more detail and my reflection on that reading deals directly with Bartemeus, who he is and what he represents. But with today’s version, I would like to focus on Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?”

When Jesus ask a question in the bible you should consider the question being directed towards you as well. Ask yourself how you might answer Him? Pondering Jesus’ questions can often lead to a deep examination of conscience. Today Jesus is asking you, what do you want Him to do for you? For the blind man this question is laser focused on the fact that he could not see, and that meant that he was excluded from most of jewish society, spiritually orphaned, and was left to beg and scrap for everything in his life. His physical condition was affecting every other aspect of his life, including the spiritual life.

But what would your answer be, if Jesus asked you that question? Do you know what you would say? I think that I would ask for wisdom and understanding. Specifically with regard to having insight into people’s resistence to faith in you God. I have a strong inclination to help others find the peace and hope that I have in the Lord. And I would love to know the right thing to say at the right time to help them on their journey.

Nevertheless, the most important part of this reading is the last part where Jesus says “your faith has saved you.” It is important to take note of the fact that every time Jesus heals the afflictions of the people in the bible, He always addresses their spiritual life first. He forgives, first and then heals, He addresses the persons great faith, and then heals. But He first heals their soul before He heals their body. The body is ephemeral, and easily fixed but the soul, however, is eternal, and must be cared for and nurtured first.

So the message is clear here. Focus on your faith, and your connection with God, and worry less about your body and the aches and pains of life. Offer those things up to the lord and let Him use that sacrifice for the help of those in more need. And when you succeed in doing that, you will find that those physical sufferings are less important, and often go away.

please lord help me to find this insight, and help me to help others come to faith in you.