Pentecost 21, October 29, 2006

     A man is walking downtown, being led by his seeing-eye dog.  They came to a busy intersection and the dog, ignoring the high volume of traffic zooming by on the street, leads the man out into the thick of the traffic.  This is followed by the screech of tires and horns blaring as the panicked drivers try desperately not to run the pair down.

     The man and his dog finally reach the safety of the sidewalk on the other side of the street, and the man pulls a cookie out of his coat pocket, and offers it to the dog.

     A fellow pedestrian, having observed the near fatal incident, can’t control his amazement and says to the man, “Why on earth are you rewarding your dog with a cookie?  He nearly got you killed!”

     The man turned in the direction of the fellow walker and says, “I need to find where his head is, so I can kick him real hard in the rear end!”

     In our continuing effort to be politically correct, you may have noticed that we do not say “blind man” or “deaf woman” anymore.  Our words are “visually challenged” and “hearing impaired.”  I don’t really find anything wrong with that, since it helps move us away from relating to folks with various challenges as less than whole persons.  Those with physical challenges generally can do whatever they set their minds to do and very often find the greatest handicap comes from those who don’t believe they should.  I would only suggest that if we do not intend to help, we should at least get out of the way.

     The story of Bartimaeus and Jesus may be looked at from several angles.  It can be a simple report of a physical healing.  It can be interpreted as a spiritual moving from a lack of faith to a certain faith.  I think to story is best seen from the point of view of Bartimaeus; a man who begins in blindness, asks for help, receives his sight, and becomes a devoted disciple.

     Look with your mind’s eye at the scene that day.  The rag-tag band following the rabbi named Jesus has come to Jericho and are about to move on as he travels to Jerusalem.  A large crowd of curious folks had gathered to see this man as he passed through their town.  The news of his compassion and healing power had reached Jericho and beyond.  People wanted to see him, hear him, and touch and be touched by him.

     It just so happened that a blind beggar learned that this man was to pass through and, after years of sitting and begging, he felt that perhaps this was the chance to do something about his situation.  He was tired of begging, having people pity him, depending on handouts from townspeople and strangers.  Somehow he felt there was a life beyond dependency and despair.  And so, when the small parade reached where he had sat for years, he yelled out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  The elected officials and members of the Jericho Chamber of Commerce tried to get him to hush and be quiet.  But the more they tried to quiet him the louder he yelled.  He was determined and he refused to be silent.  His eyes didn’t work, but his voice did, so he shouted above the noise of the crowd, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

     And, Mark says, Jesus stood still.  What an amazing, beautiful description of this man called Jesus the Christ.  Jesus stood still.  He knew that a moving target presented a problem for a sightless man.  He would not be elusive to Bartimaeus; nor to any one of us.  In the midst of the pressing crowd, knowing what awaited him in Jerusalem, Jesus was willing to stop and minister to one needy soul.  “Call him here,” Jesus said.  They said to Bartimaeus, “This must be your lucky day.  Get up, he is calling you.”  Bartimaeus threw off his heavy cloak and ran to Jesus.  He did not take his tin cup, his walking stick, or his bag of personal belongings.  He did not particularly care if he stumbled over unseen rocks or feet.  He was a man who would not be denied.  Here is a man who is going to place his deepest desire into the hands of someone who might help.  This dream of being able to see outweighed all else.  He would risk ridicule, injury, and the laughter of the seeing crowd.  He was going to take advantage of this opportunity and nothing would get in the way.  He refused to be defeated by his present circumstances and would not be intimidated by the crowd.  He refused to be delayed.  He threw off his cloak, sprang to his feet, and ran to Jesus.

     Then a very curious question is asked.  “What do you want me to do for you?”  Jesus could see that this man could not see.  He might have anticipated what he needed.  But, he asked first.  I do wish we could learn to ask first.  So many times we think we know best what someone needs.  That is especially true with those who are disenfranchised, dispossessed, diseased,

downtrodden, outcast, homeless, hungry, addicted, or voiceless.

     Remember that it was just last week that James and John wanted Jesus to do something for them and Jesus asked the same question.  “What do you want me to do for you?”  But, what a difference between what James and John ask and what Bartimaeus asks.  James and John wanted a shortcut to glory, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, when you set up the Kingdom.”  Bartimaeus simply says, “My teacher, let me receive my sight.”  I want to see!

     Now I hope you do not scoff at miracles.  Such things do indeed continue to happen, even to Episcopalians.  It won’t have much to do with the interpretation of scripture, the gender of the Presiding Bishop, what Prayer Book we might use, or whether we are conservative or liberal.  There may be certain conditions that need to be present.  We can see them in this story of Bartimaeus and Jesus.

     First, there is personal persistence.  Bartimaeus had exhausted his own resources.  No human power could help him.  His need was so great that nothing could stand in his way to put the problem in the hands of Jesus, the son of David.  Bartimaeus gave the messianic title in faith and in recognition of what he needed.  Others might call him Jesus of Nazareth, still others may say he is the carpenter’s son, and many were identifying him as John the Baptist come back to life or Elijah or one of the old prophets, but a blind man, at the end of his rope, was willing to take the risk and call him Jesus, the long-awaited son of David, the Messiah.  He would put the personal request into the hands of the Messiah.

     The second condition necessary for a miracle to happen is the precise request.  Bartimaeus wanted to see.  He wanted to see people, the sunrise and sunset, the world around him, and his family.  We are very often embarrassed, vague, or sentimental in coming to God in Christ.  In order to be precise in placing our deepest need before God, we must do the one thing that seems most difficult for modern Christians.  We must engage in rigorous self-examination and be totally honest with ourselves in what we bring to God.  Attempting to hide our character defects presents a stumbling block to the one unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid.  God will never violate our personality, crash our personal party, or put words in our mouths.  God in Christ operates on the basis of invitation only and asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Until we are clear in giving our answer the request remains vague and the desire for power-filled living remains unfulfilled.

     Last of all, the condition necessary for the miracle to happen is the precious touch of Jesus.  Bartimaeus may have been just a beggar by the wayside, but he was precious in Jesus’ sight.  And he was a man of gratitude.  He asked for what he truly needed, without ego or selfishness, the miracle was performed, and he followed him on the way.  He began with a need, moved on to gratitude, and finished with loyalty.  That is the perfect summary of the stages of Christian discipleship.

     Miracles still happen.  If we are persistent and never give up, if we are precise in what we are requesting, and remember that we are precious in the sight of the Lord one might happen in our lives.  Pray that we may see more clearly, love more dearly, and follow more nearly, day by day.  Amen.