The first reading from Jeremiah is an announcement of the good news of return from exile from Babylon. It emphasises God's love for Israel and describes the joy of the returned exiles. The psalm echoes similar sentiments as Israel returns from exile, and expresses the intense joy of being in the holy city. The people must now pray for the divine intervention that will give fertility to the land. There is a promise that the painful labour of sowing will be crowned with life by the Lord who has brought them back.

In the Gospel passage, we read the story of Bartimaeus who cries out to Jesus. The title he gives Jesus, "Son of David", indicates that he, a blind beggar, actually sees who Jesus is more clearly than the disciples and crowd who have been with him all along! His persistence wins out as Jesus has his disciples call him closer. Bartimaeus responds with great joy and enthusiasm and comes to Jesus. Amazingly, Jesus need not touch Bartimaeus or even say "Your faith has saved you" because Bartimaeus' cry and actions reveal his deep faith in Jesus as his master.

It is such profound trust in Jesus that Mark wants to elicit from us as disciples of Jesus. He offers us the hope and encouraging example of Bartimaeus who followed Jesus on the way. His story must become for us a call to follow Jesus more closely each day. It offers to us the message: You have nothing to fear! Get up! He is calling you!