Today’s Gospel provides an insight into Jesus the celebrity, complete with self-appointed bodyguards, who try to take charge when Bartimeus dares to attract His attention. Bartimeus knowing that his savior is at hand, he summons the courage to break through the barrier of people’s palpable disapproval. When Jesus stops in his tracks and turns to him, the crowds are forced to back down and allow this upstart into their midst.
There are two key lessons to draw from the story of Bartimeus. First, there is a warning to those who see themselves as “insiders†and who, knowingly or unwittingly, tend to think of the Church as an exclusive community, and put up barriers to outsiders: this is not the way of Christ, who made Himself open and available to all. Second, there is encouragement for those who feel themselves to be on the outside and excluded, like Bartimeus. Jesus calls us all to come to Him. It doesn’t matter who we are. With Jesus there are no insiders and outsiders, there is no exclusive access. He invites us all to come and bring our needs to Him.