Domine, ut videam

Today's Gospel contains the verse that our local vocations office picked up and has been using over the past year. . . "Domine, ut videam." ("Lord, that I may see.")

They had thousands of bracelets made up with this simple message and distributed them to the Catholic high schools, youth groups, priests, seminarians, young adults, etc. . . they caught on and it was amazing how many people you'd see wearing them. I've got to admit, you get lots of questions when you wear an awareness bracelet with Latin on it. It definitely puts you on the spot when strangers on the bus ask "What does 'Domine, ut videam' mean?" Even more awkward is when non-Christian friends and family ask the same question. It's a good conversation starter though.

" The prayer and healing of Bartimaeus gives us hope when trying to discern or "see" our vocation in life. Whether we are called to the priesthood, religious life, married life or the single life, we are asking Our Lord Jesus Christ to help us grow in love of Him by healing us of our sins, and recognizing in truth what he is asking of us right now. The prayer of Bartimaeus is written in Latin to remind us of the Catholic faith tradition to which we belong and to provide a curiosity to those who see it to ask "what does that mean?" Our hope is that through prayer to God and conversation with others, many will listen to the Lord when He asks, "What do you want me to do for you?"; that person will open the eyes of their heart to pray, "Lord, that I may see." (From www.vocationsvancouver.com)

Bartimaeus Receives His Sight (Mark 10:46-52)

⁴⁶Then they came to Jericho, and as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road.

⁴⁷When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁸Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁹And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you."

⁵⁰Throwing aside his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus.

⁵¹And answering him, Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And the blind man said to Him, "Lord, that I may see!"

⁵²And Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.