That was the question Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus in this Sunday's Gospel lesson. (You can find the story at Mark 10:46-52.) Bartimaeus was a road side beggar on the outskirts of Jericho. When he heard that Jesus arrived, he could barely contain himself. "Son of David," he cried, "have mercy on me!" The crowd, embarrassed by Bartimaeus' outburst, tried to shush him. Jesus, however, would have none of that. Stopped in his tracks, Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"

I think we can learn a lot from Bartimaeus. Despite his blindness, he could see who Jesus really was. Despite his place at the bottom of society, he claimed Jesus love for himself. He wasn't afraid to speak up and proclaim his faith. After Jesus healed Bartimaeus from his blindness, we might expect him to go in search of his family or pursue some other dream. Jesus had given him his life back, after all! He would no longer have to sit on his cloak by the road side. What Bartimaeus does, though, is follow. The Gospel tells us, "Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way."

In reflecting on this passage, we may want to ask ourselves: Do we speak up or keep silent in the presence of Jesus? Where are we blinded to the truth right in front of us? Are we just sitting by the road side? Have we heard the call to join Jesus on the journey?