But once we have asked him to take over our hearts and lives and have opened our inmost being to him unconditionally, then we see him as though for the first time.  With Job, we say, “I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee…” (RSV, Job 42:5).  

So, when Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak and came forward, then in response to that action his blindness was cured and he found himself looking straight into the face of Christ.  Something similar happened at supper at Emmaus.  After the two disciples had invited Jesus to stay with them, then “…their eyes were opened and they recognized him…” (RSV, Luke 24:31).

That moment of spiritual recognition of Our Blessed Lord ushers in a close personal relationship with him, no less close, no less personal than if we actually saw him with our physical sight.  St Peter describes this relationship with Jesus Christ: “Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice…” (RSV, 1 Peter 1:8).