Sunday, October 27, 2024
The Way of a Pilgrim is the English title of a classic 1884 Russian, Eastern Orthodox Church spiritual book. The anonymous author, a Russian peasant, recounts his experience as he goes on a journey seeking to fully comprehend and put into practice Saint Paul’s teaching to continuous prayer, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), specifically, the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The book is both a spiritual manual and a testimony to the pilgrim’s devotion to God. “The story of the Russian pilgrim is beautiful: it is a book that is accessible to all. I recommend you read it; it will help you to understand what vocal prayer is… [The words we speak] lead us by the hand towards the experience of God.” (Pope Francis, General Audience, April 21, 2021). If interested, you can freely get a recorded audiobook version from https://stanthonysmonastery.org/pages/audiobooks.
Repeatedly reciting the Jesus Prayer makes us aware of our human sinfulness and the mercy of Christ, our Savior. It is a humble cry for healing and forgiveness in the biblical tradition of Psalms and hymns. Repetition of the prayer cultivates a profound and continual consciousness of God’s presence in our lives.
In today’s Gospel, we meet Bartimaeus, a blind man who sits by the roadside begging. Rebuked and ostracized by the people around him but full of hope, he persists in crying out to Jesus upon hearing Him pass by, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me” (Mark 10:47b). The Jesus Prayer simulates Bartimaeus’s cry, an invocation of Jesus’s name recognizing Him as the Messiah and a plead for mercy. Bartimaeus’ persistence imparts the importance of perseverance in prayer and faith while staying undeterred by societal pressures to silence those cries. In a demonstration of His compassion and answering the calls of those in need, Jesus stops and calls Bartimaeus to Him. St. Mark’s account tells us that the blind beggar “threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.” Bartimaeus cast aside his burdens to answer the call of Christ. Upon asking for his sight, Jesus granted Bartimaeus his request and set him free to go for his faith saved him. The blind beggar was transformed by receiving his sight and became a follower of Jesus.
Bartimaeus’ encounter with Jesus and the Jesus Prayer help us recognize that we need Jesus’ mercy and redemption. They inspire us to persistently seek Him and respond to His call. Are there areas of blindness in our lives that need healing? Jesus is nearby, waiting for us to cry out to Him in faith. How will we respond to His call in our own lives?
Let us bring our needs to Jesus. Let us be persistent in our prayer and open to the transformative power of faith.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.