Pentecost 22 – 25 October 2015 – Year B

Pentecost 22 – 25 October 2015 – Year B

Grace to you and peace from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The text for this meditation is written in the 10^th Chapter of the Gospel according to St Mark: Verses 46 – 52 - As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

There are some times in our lives when a particular need is so pressing that nothing else seems important by comparison. If you’ve ever been lost in the bush, you know that if a magic Leprechaun were to appear while you were stumbling over tree stumps – your once in a lifetime wish would be, at that moment, to find your way home. In my military career, I have experienced life threating situations, but regardless of my training or experience, if I had been given the choice of being there and being rewarded in some way or be out of the situation, I would have elected to be out every time.

Sometimes our needs are more serious and more dramatic. A sick child takes precedence over everything else that goes on in a home. A life-threatening injury can make even the worst financial or professional problems seem insignificant. A chronic ailment can be a constant barrier to the kind of life we want to live.

One of the key figures in our story today had just such a need. His name was Bartimaeus – literally “Son of Timaeus” in Aramaic; and he was blind. Mind you, Bartimaeus was not blind in an era of seeing-eye dogs, Braille, occupational therapy, and health insurance. He lived in a time where the sightless had to depend on the charity of others. If they were fortunate, their families cared for them. If they were not fortunate, they begged on the street.

Bartimaeus was not fortunate. He spent his days on the side of the busy highway from Jericho to Jerusalem; perhaps hoping that the faithful headed to the Holy City would gain God’s favour by throwing him a coin or two. More than likely, he caught as many curses and insults as he did coins, and, just like today, a blind pauper made a tempting target for the punches of bullies and the nimble fingers of thieves.

It is a gross understatement to say that Bartimaeus did not lead a happy life. All that he needed, though, was one thing to turn his life around. One simple change would have allowed him to leave the side of the road and actually walk upon it. All that he needed was his sight, and for that he needed a miracle.

Somehow, despite a miserable life that seems like barely a life at all, Bartimaeus managed to keep hoping for that miracle. In fact, our text for today takes us to the side of the road just as Bartimaeus’ miraculous opportunity is – quite literally – passing him by. Jesus and his followers are going through on their way to Jerusalem, a trip that will end in Jesus’ death and resurrection. On their way out of town, their group moves past the spot where Bartimaeus is begging for coins.

Bartimaeus hears more commotion than usual. Perhaps James and John are still arguing about who will sit at Jesus’ right and left hands in the coming Kingdom. Perhaps there is a crowd, still following Jesus for the spectacle or for the free food or to hear more of his teachings. Whatever catches Bartimaeus’ attention, he quickly figures out that it – at the centre of the noise – is Jesus of Nazareth.

If we could freeze Bartimaeus at that very moment, it would be the perfect symbol of where almost everyone finds themselves at some time or another. It’s also a great snapshot of where much of the world is right now. Bartimaeus knows that his life is in shambles and broken; and he knows that he cannot provide what he needs to be whole and healthy and at peace. He sits in darkness, and he knows that only Jesus can offer him healing and hope; but he has no way to find Jesus. He cannot see, and with all of the shouting voices in the crowd, Bartimaeus does not know which one to follow.

Struggling in the darkness, wanting to find Jesus, but not knowing how to get to him. Friends, at some times all of us face the light of a new day feeling exactly the same way. In fact some of us attend worship services and Bible Studies simply because someone gave the time and effort to guide us to the place where we could find the presence of God.

Bartimaeus had no one like that. He shouts at the top of his lungs, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” When he calls out, a lifetime of desperation and loneliness gives strength to his voice. Even over the noise of the crowd, some people there hear him.

Unfortunately, they have their own priorities. They’ve come to Jesus for their own reasons. Some of them, like Bartimaeus, want a miracle; and the last thing they want is someone else butting in. Some of them are there for the teaching. They want to hear Jesus’ theological thoughts; and they don’t want Him distracted by another one of these annoying outcasts that He’s so fond of. So for whatever their personal reasons, the crowd tries to silence Bartimaeus.

What of the crowd?

If Bartimaeus is a picture of our own needs and the needs of the world, the crowd is, sadly, a potential image of the Church. Often we of the Church surrounded Jesus, each of us crowding Him with our own expectations of what He can do for us. Friends, at times, our personal agendas become a wall that boxes Jesus in, and keeps those with real needs out.

In saying this, I am not acting as Judge over the Church, but one only has to look back in history to see the trail of persecution, division, wars and bitter resentment brought about by mankind putting labels on God’s Holy assembly, the Church on earth, to suit their own needs and agendas. We reflect with shame on the atrocities that have been committed in God’s name; and on those who have been cast out from worship because they did not measure up to mankind’s rules imposed on God’s gracious gift to us in the name of Jesus Christ His only Son. When reflecting on the crowd confronting Bartimaeus in this Gospel reading, we must ask ourselves “are we jealously guarding our Church against those whom we consider unacceptable, or are we complying with the command of Jesus in Matthew 28 to seek out, evangelise and Baptise, those lost souls in our community?” – Jesus commands us to listen for the cry of those who are in need and are seeking him.

Well, Bartimaeus refuses to be silenced. He shouts again, even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” That must have taken some courage, to lie defenceless and in the dark screaming the name of Jesus while a threatening crowd worked to silence him. Importantly, when Bartimaeus can’t find Jesus on the first try, he tries again.

You know it’s so easy for a Christian to forget that lesson in worship, and in life. After all, Jesus is right here with us. But the truth is – it doesn’t always feel that way. We drink Christ’s blood and eat His body to be again joined with Christ’s in forgiveness and eternal salvation in the merciful presence of God; but sometimes that just doesn’t sink in.

Bartimaeus says – keep trying! Whatever that means for each of us, keep doing it. Keep praying, keep reading, keep studying, keep singing, keep preaching. Keep seeking. In these times God will come to us; but also in our human frailties there will be roadblocks moments on our faith journeys that we can only get through if we keep calling on Jesus.

It works, just as it did for Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus calls into the darkness a second time. When he does, Jesus hears him and stops walking. Jesus tells the crowd, “Call him here,” and when He says it, the nature of the crowd changes. They stop being an impediment to the work of God, and become its instrument. Suddenly to them this man is acceptable in Jesus’ sight.

Hearing Jesus’ command, the crowd calls to the man, “Take heart; get up, He is calling you.” On hearing this, Bartimaeus gets up and – leaving his cloak, perhaps his only possession, behind – runs to Jesus. He gives up all he has and answers the call.

Bartimaeus hears Jesus’ question and immediately knows the answer. “What do you want me to do for you?”

Friends, this is an important question. Bartimaeus has been shouting at the top of his lungs, begging – no longer for coin – but for the chance to meet Jesus. Dear friends in Christ, this is not a bad question to ask ourselves as well. What do we want from Jesus? Why are we seeking Him? Do we want wealth? Power? Prestige? Healing? Companionship? What are we here for? Some of us will get what we seek, others will not; we have no choice but to trust the wisdom of God.

As people of faith, or even as people seeking faith, that does not stop us from trying. Bartimaeus answers Jesus, “Teacher, let me see again.”

Jesus responds, “Go, your faith has made you well,” and immediately Bartimaeus can see.

Think about that! Jesus doesn’t say “I have healed you.” He isn’t theatrical, Jesus simply tells Bartimaeus that his faith has already healed him.

It wasn’t finally meeting Jesus that gave Bartimaeus his sight. It was having the faith to seek Jesus in the first place. Interestingly, the word that our NRSV translates as “made well” is the same word for salvation. It means completeness and restoration.

It was Bartimaeus faith that kept him persistent in seeking Jesus and it was ultimately his faith that healed him. Not faith in himself but faith in Jesus, the Son of God.

Whatever darkness clouds our vision, whatever forces stand between us and salvation; we cannot let anything distract us from the only answer that can restore us and make us whole: the merciful love of God, the physical presence of Jesus, the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Bartimaeus, like Job is restored to health and freedom of opportunity. We don’t really know just what he did with his life after that, but our reading does tell us that he followed in the path of Jesus,

The miracle of Bartimaeus’, the experiences of Job serve to remind us that regardless of our opinions, our wealth our standing in life, we live entirely by and through the Grace of God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We live in the love He lavished on us on the cross, but in the Holy Scriptures we are constantly reminded that our life can only be complete if we become conduits of God’s love; the vessel through which it flows on to those fellow beings in need. If we can do that, if we can cling to our faith we can be assured that regardless of what life throws at us, in Christ, we will prevail. Amen.

The love and peace of God that exceeds all human understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen

Merv James