Bartimaeus could not see, and because he could not see, people refused to see him. His blindness made him invisible to those around him. As Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus, he is told to be quiet, yet he continues to cry out. Despite the absence of his sight, Bartimaeus could feel the presence of Jesus, and he knew that if he cried out, there was a possibility of a connection to Christ. As he cries out, Jesus sees and hears him. Many of us are just like Bartimaeus on the roadside, crying out with faith in the hope of encountering Jesus. And just as he saw Bartimaeus, Jesus sees us. Jesus hears us. Jesus responds to us. Jesus called out to Bartimaeus, asking, “What do you want for me to do for you?” 

The beauty of fasting is that it draws us closer to God. The distractions that consume us are removed, creating space to rely more fully on God’s presence. Bartimaeus responds to the question of Jesus saying, “My teacher, let me see again.”