Pentecost 21

The Reverend Martha Frances

Year B, Pentecost 21, Proper 25

25 October 2009

Text:  Mark 10: 46-52

Other Readings: Job 42: 1-6, 10-17; Psalm 34: 1-8 (19-22); Hebrews 7: 23-28 

      Jesus asked the blind beggar Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?"  Last week, Jesus used the same words as he asked James & John, "What do you want me to do for you?  In today's Gospel, Jesus encounters a blind man, & we would think he would know what Bartimaeus needs from him, yet he doesn't presume.  He asks.  Jesus acknowledges Bartimaeus' dignity as an adult human being to speak for himself.

      Many of you know my opera buddy Ronnie who is also blind.  We've been going to the opera together for many years.  He travels across town alone by bus to the VA Hospital where he has worked ever since college.  He has visited Brazil & skied in Colorado.  He once found my car in the Astrodome parking lot when I was hopelessly lost—he has a memory like a steel trap.  Yet when we go to dinner, the server invariably asks me what Ronnie wants to eat.  How should I know?  Ronnie is quite capable of ordering his own dinner. 

      Jesus respects our capability by entering our lives like a gentleman—by invitation, asking to be received.  In this encounter, he sees Bartimaeus as a man with a disability & doesn't dismiss him as the disability.  This morning, at the end of October 2009, Jesus is asking you & me, "What do you want me to do for you?"  What is your answer today to Jesus' question?

      This healing story is Mark's last story before he begins relating Jesus' passion.  Indeed, Jesus & his disciples are already on their way to Jerusalem.  "On his way to Jerusalem" is Mark's shorthand for Jesus' journey to death on a cross.  Jesus is well-known by now, having preached & taught & performed miracles for 3 years.  He has collected quite a following—not only his disciples but also a large crowd.  He's popular, & he's busy. 

      When Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus, the crowd tries to silence him—Jesus is far too important for this no-count beggar.  But Bartimaeus is persistent: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, can see what the other followers are too blind to see:  he calls Jesus "Son of David."  Not even the disciples have eyes to see that Jesus is Messiah.  Last week James & John thought they would have special positions in Jesus' kingdom.  They were also too blind to see what it meant for Jesus to be the Messiah.

      Bartimaeus doesn't ask for a special position.  He only asks that Jesus have mercy, have compassion on him.  He trusts that Jesus has the power to heal him.  Bartimaeus knows that he has nothing to bring to Jesus except his brokenness, his blindness.  He calls out, & Jesus stands still & calls the blind man to him.  Bartimaeus throws off the cloak which has protected him & springs forward to Jesus for healing. 

      Remember other stories of Jesus' calling of the disciples?  This is not just a healing story but also another call story.  Jesus stops in his tracks & says, "Call him here."  The crowd then rushes to cooperate with Jesus.  "Hurry up, Bartimaeus; don't keep the master waiting!"  He jumps up, throws off his cloak, & hurries to Jesus.  Bartimaeus throws off that which holds him back—his cloak which is also his protection, because he trusts Jesus.

      We here in the church sometimes assume that others know what we want or need.  I sometimes find out after-the-fact that a parishioner has been in the hospital.  I count it a privilege to be able to pray with someone before surgery or when a person is hospitalized.  Further, my presence at the time of someone's death or soon after allows me to accompany the family through the confusing hours & days afterward.   None of us wants to be beholden or a bother, yet our acceptance of help is often a gift to the other person.

      Several weeks ago, we heard about the rich young man who said he wanted eternal life, but when Jesus told him to get rid of what held him back, he went away sorrowful.  The rich young man couldn't let go of his cloak—his protection, his wealth—could he? 

      Bartimaeus, on the other hand, comes to Jesus eagerly & answers, "Let me see again."  Bartimaeus doesn't hesitate.  He knows that Jesus can heal him.  Bartimaeus can already see better than many who are not blind.  Jesus declares that Bartimaeus' own faith has healed him.  He regains his sight "immediately."  Do you hear the urgency in this story?  When he can see again, what does he do?  He doesn't hesitate to follow Jesus, "on the way."  "The Way" was the first name given to the Christian movement after Jesus' death, long before his followers were called Christians. 

      Where are you in this story?  Perhaps Jesus is asking you this morning, "What do you want me to do for you today?"  No matter how long you have followed Jesus "on the way," this journey with Jesus requires repetitive letting go as we continue to respond to Jesus' call to discipleship.  Bartimaeus apparently became a disciple known to Mark's church.  His life changed radically as a result of Jesus' healing him; of that we can be sure.

      But there are many reasons why Bartimaeus might have been hesitant for Jesus' healing to change his life so radically.  First, a seeing man was expected to earn his own way, to take on responsibilities not expected of a blind man.  Because of his keen insight, he likely became a leader in the Christian community.  It was dangerous to be a designated leader of Jesus' followers.  Tradition says all of Jesus' 12 closest disciples save John the beloved were martyred for their faith.  How many more died violently on "the way" they had chosen with Jesus?  We don't know if Bartimaeus was also a martyr, but his life as a disciple was radically different & surely more dangerous.

      What cloak of protection do you still wear in your journey with Jesus?  I like the image of shedding a cape because most of us have layers of protection we have to shed one at a time.  What have you been too blind to see thus far in your life?  Are you too comfortable in your blindness to reach out for healing for Jesus to open your eyes to areas you haven't had faith to follow him?  No one can answer that question for you, but a hint might be whatever it is that comes to your mind but you try to dismiss quickly.  May you mull over the question this week.

      Remember, the question is not what we can do on our own; the question is what we want Jesus to do for us.  How are we willing for Jesus to strengthen us & prepare us for service?  Our question applies corporately to Hope Episcopal also.  Where has our parish been blind, been too entrenched in the way church has always been to be willing to do some things in new ways?  There's a saying that doing the same things over & over again & expecting different results is a good working definition for insanity. 

      Our vestry has chosen to embark on a whole new approach to stewardship this year.  We are fully aware that the economic situation for many people is frightening & is requiring us to make difficult choices.  The old system of asking for pledges & then measuring your giving against your stated intentions has created frustration & guilt for some people & has not provided us with a true guide for church budget planning.  This year we are following the baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every human being & are asking that you prayerfully consider the very best you & God can determine as what you can thankfully return to God in 2010.  Your commitment will be a covenant between you & God, & we will provide a sealable envelope for you to lay on the altar in our covenant box on Covenant Sunday with your promise which God alone will see.  Like Jesus' respect of Bartimaeus, we believe that you are a whole person, more than your economic situation, & you & God will determine how you can support Hope this next year in our fulfillment of our mission to each other & to the larger community in 2010.  Our financial situation has never been so strained, yet we believe that God will guide us all to give out of a spirit of thanksgiving & it will be enough.  What can each of us give is the question & is much broader than how much we can give.

Jesus doesn't expect us to operate alone.  Jesus doesn't say, "What do you want to do?"  Jesus asks, "What do you want me to do for you?"  May the people of Hope respond ever more joyfully & faithfully to Jesus' overture.