Opening Game
Start by playing Minefield. In this game, a team member is blindfolded and guided through obstacles by a leader who can see. For more details, visit How to Play Minefield.
Afterward, ask these questions:
- How hard was it to walk without seeing ahead of you? Were you afraid of bumping into something?
- As the caller, how responsible did you feel to guide others safely?
- What level of trust was needed in the game?
In today’s gospel, we hear about someone who was blind his whole life. When he heard Jesus was calling, he stood up and moved forward, showing courage and trust.
Scripture Reading
Read the Gospel:
Mark 10:46-52 (Jesus heals Bartimaeus) – the Gospel Reading for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”
Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.Mark 10:46-52
Discussion
So, Bartimaeus is sitting on the side of the road, begging, just like he does every day. He’s used to it by now, completely dependent on the generosity of people passing by. He probably listens for the clink of a coin hitting his cup and says “Thank you” each time, hoping for a little more to get him through the day. But today, something is different. There’s a commotion. He can hear it—people are talking, moving, maybe even running. Something important is happening.
Bartimaeus is curious, so he grabs the attention of someone walking by and asks what’s going on. They tell him it’s Jesus. He’s heard about this man, Jesus of Nazareth, the one people are saying is a prophet, maybe even the Messiah. Some say He works miracles, healing people of sickness and giving sight to the blind. Bartimaeus has been left out of a lot of things in life because of his blindness, but this time, he doesn’t want to be left out. He wants to “see” Jesus for himself. So, with nothing to lose, he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
And what happens? People around him try to quiet him down. They tell him to stop yelling, to sit quietly, not to bother Jesus. But Bartimaeus won’t be silenced. He doesn’t care what they think; he keeps shouting, “Son of David, have pity on me!” He is determined to get Jesus’ attention. And then, Jesus stops. He hears Bartimaeus.
Imagine how Bartimaeus must have felt at that moment. Jesus heard him. The crowd that had tried to quiet him now encourages him. They say, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” Bartimaeus doesn’t waste any time. He jumps up, throwing aside his cloak. Remember, this cloak might be his only possession, the one thing that keeps him warm at night. But Bartimaeus doesn’t care about that anymore. He’s so eager to meet Jesus that nothing else matters. He’s filled with faith that this encounter with Jesus will change everything for him.
And he’s right. Jesus asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus doesn’t hesitate. He says, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus tells him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” And just like that, Bartimaeus can see! His whole life changes in an instant. But here’s the thing: Bartimaeus doesn’t just go back to his old life. He doesn’t return to his spot on the roadside, find his cloak, and keep begging. He can see now, and that changes everything. He uses his new gift of sight to follow Jesus. His faith not only gave him his sight back but also set him on the path of discipleship.
So, what does this mean for us? Like Bartimaeus, we can suffer from blindness. Maybe we’re not physically blind, but there are things in our lives that we can’t see clearly. We might be blind to areas of our life that need to change. Maybe we’re blind to our bad habits, our sins, or the way we treat others. We might be blind to the prejudices we hold or the way we judge people who are different from us. Sometimes, we are even blind to how much God loves us, or we might not truly see the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Think about it: What are some ways you might be blind right now? Is there a part of your life that needs healing, something you’ve been ignoring or avoiding? Maybe you’re not paying attention to important relationships. Maybe you’ve become numb to the suffering of others, or maybe you’ve lost sight of how God is working in your life. We all have areas of blindness, and just like Bartimaeus, we need to recognize them and call out to Jesus for help.
But here’s the challenge: it takes courage. Bartimaeus wasn’t afraid to cry out to Jesus, even when people tried to shut him up. He didn’t care what others thought; he knew that Jesus was the only one who could help him. We need that same courage. We need to call out to Jesus in faith, asking Him to cure our blindness. And when He shines His light into our lives, it might be uncomfortable at first. It’s not always easy to admit our faults or see the truth about ourselves. But when we let Jesus heal our spiritual blindness, we begin to see more clearly how to follow Him.
So, what might have to change in your life if you started to see things differently? Maybe you’ll notice that you need to be more patient or more forgiving. Maybe you’ll see that you need to spend more time in prayer or that you’ve been neglecting your relationship with God. Seeing Jesus clearly means we can’t go back to our old ways. Like Bartimaeus, once we receive our sight, we are called to follow Jesus on a new path, a path of discipleship.
Let’s take a moment to reflect. What are the areas in your life where you might be blind? How might you ask Jesus to heal that blindness? And what will it mean for your life if you begin to see Jesus more clearly? Bartimaeus’ story reminds us that faith in Jesus can open our eyes and set us on a new path. All we have to do is call out to Him, trust in His mercy, and be ready for the change He brings.
Small Group Reflection Questions
Facilitators, guide your small group by encouraging open and respectful sharing. Remind participants that everyone’s thoughts are valuable, and it’s okay to share personal experiences. Ask the questions below and allow time for reflection. Encourage participants to listen carefully to each other, and feel free to ask follow-up questions to dive deeper into their thoughts and feelings.
- Bartimaeus asked for sight, and Jesus gave it to him. Is there something you would like to ask Jesus for today? How can we help each other pray for these needs?
- Bartimaeus kept calling out to Jesus even when people told him to be quiet. Have you ever felt like giving up on something important? What helped you to keep going?
- What are some ways we might be “blind” in our own lives, like Bartimaeus was before he met Jesus?
- When Bartimaeus called out to Jesus, he had faith that Jesus could heal him. How does faith help us when we face challenges or struggles?
- Bartimaeus had to let go of his cloak, possibly his most important possession, to run to Jesus. What are some things in your life that you might need to let go of to follow Jesus more closely?
- Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” If Jesus asked you this question, what would you say?
- After being healed, Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the road. What does it mean for you to follow Jesus in your everyday life?
- How does trust play a role in our relationship with Jesus? Can you share a time when you had to trust Him, even when it was difficult?
- Bartimaeus was healed because of his faith. How can we grow in faith so that we can “see” Jesus more clearly in our lives?
- In what ways can we help others who may be spiritually blind, like the people who encouraged Bartimaeus to meet Jesus?
Challenge
Fr. Walter Burghardt, a Jesuit priest, described prayer as “a long, loving look at the real.” This reminds us that prayer isn’t just about words; it’s about paying attention to the world around us with love and gratitude. This week, take extra care to be aware of your sight and other senses. Set aside five minutes each day to sit quietly, preferably outside. Look at the details in nature—trees, flowers, or even the sky. Notice what you hear, whether it’s birds, the wind, or everyday sounds. Smell the air, feel the temperature, and take it all in as part of God’s creation.
During this time, reflect on how these experiences are gifts from God. Our senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch—are ways God allows us to connect with the world He made. As you sit still, think of how each sense reveals a piece of God’s love. Thank Him for these gifts, and use this moment of quiet to try to see Jesus through the beauty and wonder around you. This practice can help deepen your awareness of God’s presence in your daily life.
Prayer
As we come to the end of our time together, let us take a moment to quiet our hearts and pray the Jesus Prayer, a prayer similar to the cry of Bartimaeus. This simple prayer is one we can repeat in our hearts, asking for Jesus’ mercy and healing.
The prayer is:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
To pray it, breathe in as you say, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,” and breathe out as you say, “have mercy on me, a sinner.” Repeat this prayer slowly, allowing yourself to rest in God’s presence.
(For more on the Jesus Prayer, you can visit this link.)
Let’s take a few minutes now to pray the Jesus Prayer together.
More Resources
More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections
For more information and resources, see https://young-catholics.com/12158/a-welcome-sight-seeing-jesus/