PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE THROUGH FAITH

REV FR EKESHIRI JUDE EMEKA CSSP.

Dear friends, today we are presented with a very powerful message of faith, perseverance and resilience in the story of the blind Bartimaeus. The hardship of life most times pushes us to give up on God, but with our inner ability of faith, God comes to our rescue.

Today in the gospel, Jesus encounters Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who calls out, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Despite others trying to silence him, Bartimaeus persists, expressing his faith in Jesus’ power to heal. Jesus hears his cry, stops, and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus’ simple, honest, and only reply was, Master, I want to see (Mark 10:46-52).

We see how trust in God could turn our lives around. The blind man had a strong desire to be healed despite the frustration and discouragement from the crowd, he kept on shouting the name of Jesus.

When people tries to shut us down, let us remember that faith, resilience and persistence pays much. This story highlights the transformative power of faith and the importance of persistent prayer.

Bartimaeus’ courage to seek Jesus despite obstacles inspires us to approach God with our own needs and trust in His compassion. It reminds us that Jesus always hears us, responds to our deepest longings, and invites us to follow Him closely. As we keep our faith alive, let us also add persistence and resilience so that Jesus can say to us, go your faith have saved you. Peace be with you.