How should we "see" the world?  Is the culture our enemy?  Should we retreat from the world at all costs, or should we just blend in, "be nice," and not make waves? 

"Son of David, have pity on me!" the blind Bartimeus calls out in our Gospel this weekend.  Jesus summons Bartimeus, inviting him to rebirth and transformation.  "Throwing off his cloak" is the symbol of throwing off his old life and his old desires.  Jesus never compels but asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" The man wants to see.  Jesus heals him, physically, but also at the level of his soul, and sends him forth into the world. 

Jesus fulfills the Old Testament promise of Jeremiah that the exiles and remnant will be gathered back together; the lame will walk and the blind will see!  Any first-century Jew would not have missed what Jesus was doing.  But beyond being a political messiah, Jesus is after healing the world down to the root of sin, if only we give ourselves over to his saving power.

Get a glimpse of how Catholics understand our role in the modern world with poet, actor, and friend of Word on Fire Jonathan Roumie from our newest series, Catholicism 101: