Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:46-52
“Mark points out that he throws aside his cloak in order to come to Jesus. As a blind beggar, this cloak was his sole possession. He lived in it day and night. So a disciple needs to be willing to cast everything aside in order to come to Jesus. We cannot let anything get in the way. Because of his response to Jesus’ call, he receives his sight and the gift of salvation itself. Having been touched by Jesus, he now follows him on the way, walking in Jesus’ footsteps as his disciple. What gets in the way of my responding to the call of Jesus?”
Fr. Bill Adams in The Redemptorists of the Denver Province, daily spiritual reflection email on 3 March 2011.