This painting captures one of my favorite instances in the Gospel of Mark (10:46-52). As Jesus is making the final leg of his journey to Jerusalem where he will be condemned and die for us, he is captured by the cries of a poor man alongside the road. Bartimaeus was filled with determination to get to Jesus and would not be discouraged by the seeming impossibility of a blind man finding Jesus in a vast crowd. He knew the God for whom he longed. When he found his way, Jesus asks him the question that prompted the longing of Bartimaeus' heart, "What do you want me to do for you." Bartimaeus' faith led him to a whole new life.

This painting draws out the beauty of this moment. Bartimaeus is surrounded by the fog of his blindness, He vaguely knows himself, but even his own life is a mystery to him. He reaches out into the fog, grasping for something more. Jesus also reaches out, and as he does the fog is lifted and we see clarity and detail restored.

Bartimaeus' story is one of trust and healing. Though I've been Catholic my whole life my life was changed when I finally entrusted my life to Jesus and believed in who He is. With so many voices today telling us what is good for us and what will bring us happiness I found myself lost in a fog, trying to find happiness in many things. Jesus removed the veil in my life and helped me to see clearly. With great joy Jesus received me, a blind beggar, and invited me to a life of love with Him. And today I continue this process of conversion and continue to place myself before Jesus with my simple desire to be healed, "Master, I want to see."

 The reverse side of the card is ​an opportunity for me invite you to prayer. I of course ask you to pray for me that I may be faithful in my responsibilities as a priest but it would be unsuitable for me to end there. Through the generosity of God and others I am privileged to receive the gift of the priesthood. So I invite you to give praise to God for the gifts that all my family and friends have given me to bring me to this day.

Most of all I ask you to remember my parents in your prayers. Through their many sacrifices I am able to say "yes" to God and the Church today. Without their unwavering support and love I would not be able to make this kind of commitment. I am deeply grateful for all the love and support they have given me. It is a small return that I can have the privilege of asking you to pray for them.

Additionally, you will see a quote from scripture to help us reflect on the front image. Mark 10:46-52 has long been one of my favorite scripture passages. The Lord continues to bring fruit to my prayer through this Scripture. I invite you to take a moment to pray with it as well. Perhaps begin by  taking a moment of silence, invite the Holy Spirit to share Jesus' love with you, and then read the Scripture slowly. One helpful meditation for me has been to place myself in the role of various people in this passage such as one of the disciples, one in the crowd, or even Bartimaeus himself.

You'll also see images of the three hearts of the Holy Family. The largest in the center is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As early as the 2nd Century Christians have reflected upon the Sacred Heart which was pierced upon the Cross. Through Jesus' suffering He redeemed us and His heart burns with love for us. Yet the Cross was not the end of the story, as Jesus' heart continues to burn with love for us in His Resurrection and Ascension.

To the right you see the Chaste Heart of St. Joseph. As my lifelong patron, St. Joseph has been a faithful companion for me. The Chaste Heart recognizes the sacrifices that Joseph made to be the step-father of Christ and husband of Mary. His protective presence may be silent in Scripture, but we can see from his actions how he loved Mary and Jesus. I daily ask for St. Joseph to give me to strength to live a life of chaste-celibate love in commitment to serving Jesus' mission of redemption.

Lastly to the left of the Sacred Heart we find the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Simeon foretells in Luke 2:35 that Mary's heart will be pierced by a sword. Simeon speaks of the suffering that Mary will endure as her son is rejected and crucified. In a special way Mary is honored as the mother of priests because her son Jesus is the High Priest. As Mary is the mother of the Head of the Body of Christ, Jesus, so we too share her as our mother who are the Body of Christ. So we ask for her prayers that priests may be faithful in their role within the Body, the Church.