Leaders of the Crowd

Gospel: Luke 18: 35-43

In Luke's version of the healing of the blind Bartimaeus, it is noted with significance that those in the lead of the crowd were determined to prevent Jesus from healing him.  It is worthy of reflection for us to consider whether our leaders both secular and religious have the common good at heart, have the care and healing of all as their main interest or not.  It is very often the case that those in power do not at all have such concern but act as these leaders do in this story.

But Jesus never listens to the din of the crowd, and he is not swayed by the words of the influential and powerful unless they ask him to help another person.  But it is Jesus' concern for the need of others and not the words of the influential that determine his course of action in each and every case.  And so Bartimaeus is healed, and so are we.

It is our task to pattern our lives on the example of Jesus.  We cannot be swayed by the din of the crowd or the pressures of the influential and powerful.  Our only concern always has to be the care of souls - the healing, liberation, and nourishing of of all people in need of care and mercy.  It is only when we see and listen clearly that we can follow Jesus on the way.