23rd Sunday after Pentecost (22nd Sunday in Trinity)

All the blessings of this life and the wonders of this world pale into insignificance when compared with the all surpassing gift of our eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.  The cry of humanity should therefore be: “What must we do to be saved?”  In the Gospel passage appointed for this week we find the answer in the life of a blind beggar called Bartimaeus.  Bartimaeus did three vital things to receive eternal life.  Firstly, he confessed his utter need of God: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”  Next, when Jesus summoned him, he immediately jumped up and came to Jesus with an earnest request: “Teacher, I want to see.”  Finally, after all this, he followed Jesus down the road as a completely changed man.  The most beautiful gift in the universe is ours through these three simple steps.  Praise God!