Daily Reflection – 11/17/2025
Sacred Scripture
Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. (Luke 18:35-43)
Reflection
In the Gospel of Luke, we encounter a blind beggar named Bartimaeus sitting by the roadside. As Jesus passes by, Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Despite the crowd’s attempts to silence him, his plea only grows louder. Jesus stops and asks a simple yet profound question, one He still poses to each of us in the quiet of our hearts: “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus’s response is one of the most beautiful aspirations of faith: “Lord, I want to see.”
His request was granted. But his faith did more than just restore his physical sight; it gave him the eyes of a disciple. The scripture tells us that after he was healed, Bartimaeus followed Jesus along the way. His journey didn’t end with a miracle; it began with one.
What does it take for us to have that same transformative faith? What does it take for us to truly see Jesus in the world around us? It starts not with a grand gesture, but with the simple belief that He is present in our lives, here and now.
Where do we look to see Him? We can start with the everyday moments we so often overlook. When you see your children laughing, look beyond their joyful energy. See the mystery of their life, a precious gift God has entrusted to you. When you gather with dear friends, recognize that your bond is a tangible result of God’s love, a love that brought you together and makes your relationship life-giving.
As you take in the news of the world, it is easy to be discouraged by violence and injustice. Yet even there, look for moments of harmony, service, and cooperation. See in these good events the quiet work of God’s Spirit, striving to bring peace and justice to our world. On a beautiful day, as you notice the greenness of the trees, the vastness of the sky, and the vibrant colors of the flowers, see more than just nature. See in its intricate design a sign of the Creator who made all things and continues to sustain them. We are surrounded by people, events, and creation. Can we discern the invisible presence of God animating it all?
When we begin to see God’s Spirit at work, something wonderful happens. Our faith is strengthened because we are experiencing His presence, not just reading about it. As our faith grows, our eyes are opened further. In an age of confusion and disinformation, we begin to recognize that Jesus Christ is the one unwavering truth.
When Jesus becomes the eyes of our faith, our perspective on the world shifts. We recognize that the anger and division so prevalent today are not part of His kingdom. We feel called not only to turn away from these things but to build bridges of understanding. We start to see every person as a brother or a sister, created and loved by the same Father, making discrimination impossible. We understand that our mission is to bring others to Him through the simple actions of our lives and kindness in our words. We cease looking to others for salvation or placing them on pedestals meant only for Him.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. Do we truly see that? Do we reflect His light in the daily back-and-forth of our lives? As each day ends, can we look back with a gentle smile, knowing we lived it as He wished? If so, we are truly blessed. We are blessed because we are living in Him. Our sight has been restored, and we are following Him on the way. That is the greatest blessing of all.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord Jesus, open the eyes of my heart and mind that I may see and understand the truth and goodness of your word. May I never fail to recognize your presence with me and to call upon your saving grace in my time of need and healing.”
Daily Note
Jesus won’t allow us to see everything, because then we wouldn’t have the grace to live by faith, entrusting ourselves to things unseen, but he does want us to see things more in his light and more and more deeply. Today we ask him with Bartimaeus to give us the grace of real vision.
