A GOOD QUESTION

This past Sunday, October 27, presented us with the powerful scene of Jesus healing the blind beggar,Bartimaeus. One of the many interesting details in this miracle story occurs when the blind man stands in front of Jesus and Jesus asks him “What do you want me to do for you?” 

I reflected on Jesus‘s question and wondered why he had to ask such an obvious thing of a blind man who had cried out to him “Son of David have pity on me.“ 

It wasn’t long before my meditation shifted from that scene in Jericho and landed squarely in my heart. I heard Jesus directing his question not to Bartimaeus but to me: “Albert what do you want me to do for you?¨ I was caught off guard by the offer

Of course I was pleased at the love and generosity that lay behind the question, but I was at a loss as to what to ask for.

After going through a couple of possibilities, however, I soon enough settled on one. As I answered the question I realized that I had never before asked for God´s help with that particular matter.

But then I said to myself, ¨Why stop with just one request?” That´s when I went on a roll, and started placing before the Lord all sorts of concerns and problems. It was a very intimate moment, as I stood before Jesus with completely empty hands, asking his help.

Taking Jesus up on his offer, I had told him lots of things that he could do for me if he wished. If you have not tried this recently, I can recommend it as a great approach to prayer: putting yourself in the place of Bartimaeus and answering Jesus´ question with your own wants and needs.

What do you want me to do for you?