Sermon October 25, 2009

Pentecost Proper 25

Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126, Hebrews 5:12 - 6:1,9-12, Mark 10:46-52

There are some moments in our lives that take on a deeper significance than we might, initially, assign them. It I'd gone up the stairs to my dorm room at my English seminary just a few moments earlier I'd never have had that conversation with a Methodist class-mate led me to this country. Finally giving up on avoiding a conversation about priestly formation led to me meeting Rachel. In retrospect we can see why these moments were significant in our lives, but on first inspection they may seem very ordinary.

Such is the story of Bartimaeus and Jesus - obviously an important one for the gospel writer, because Mark not only calls the beggar Bartimaeus but repeats "Son of Timaeus" for his Greek readers - "Bar" means "son of" - so Bar-Timaeus = Son of Timaeus.

The story happens in Jericho, a city even then continuously inhabited longer than any other city in the Middle East. Say "Jericho" and you name a place that played a central role in world history - to that moment even more than Jerusalem. In the winters it was the place all the wealthy went to enjoy cool, sunny days. Herod the Great built his Winter Palace there. It was, in Jesus' time, a city of great beauty at the center of a rich agricultural area, and was an administrative center.

It was also at the end of the only road from the east to Jerusalem, so even though - as the parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us - it was a very dangerous road, it was still heavily traveled, especially at the times of the pilgrimage feasts such as the Passover - and that's where Jesus was going.

Mark tells us that there was a really big crowd in Jericho - not uncommon for a number of reasons. One was that when a distinguished Rabbi or teacher was on such a journey it was the custom that a crowd of people would surround him - disciples and learners - who listened to him teach and debate as they all walked together.

Another reason was the law that every male Jew over twelve years of age that lived within fifteen miles of Jerusalem must attend the Passover if at all possible - those who couldn't go got into the habit of lining the streets of towns and villages to bid the groups of Passover pilgrims "Godspeed."

And the last reason was that most Priests who served in the Temple at Jerusalem lived in Jericho - several thousand - like living in, say Medina and commuting to Seattle. Every one of them would be needed at the Passover celebrations, and while many would have just been heading out for Jerusalem, many others would be waiting their turn to leave.

A huge, mixed crowd. And you can imagine that there must have had very mixed opinions about Jesus. Many would have been curious to see him, if for no other reason than to marvel at the audacity of a young Galilean rabbi who had pitted himself against the Establishment.

Most of the priests probably weren't very sympathetic either. If Jesus' words about the true nature of faith were right then the Temple and all of the worship that happened there were irrelevant. No jobs. As a friend of mine who lost his job recently said, "down-sizing is a bitch." No one likes to be told that what they do is no longer relevant, that the profession that gives their lives meaning is by definition without real meaning. So emotions among that the crowd that day would have been mixed. Along with the curious and the committed, there were certainly have been many cold and hostile eyes in the crowd that day.

All of these factors make this moment quite unique in Jesus' ministry. This crowd is so large and so representative that it's as if all Israel is present at this one moment in Jericho, as Jesus approached what will be the last week of his life in Jerusalem.

And that makes the story of the interaction between Jesus and Bartimaeus particularly important and worthy of close attention. Bartimaeus was a beggar who sat at the northern gate of Jericho. He was probably a "regular" like most other beggars who sat at the entrance to the city. They'd be there every day, begging for alms. Even part-time beggars would be there - Passover-time meant heavy traffic to Jerusalem, and with eternal salvation on their minds the pilgrims would be generous. Rule #1 in begging is that you stayed where you were, on your cloak, spread out by the roadside - people don't like you getting in their faces. Rule #2 was to try and look pitiful yet not quite beyond being helped by a gift. Rule #3 - don't make waves.

Bartimaeus violated all those rules when he heard that it was Jesus coming. He made such a racket that you can imagine the other bystanders would have tried to shut him up. Some of Jesus' followers were probably offended - you just didn't interrupt a great teacher like that - especially if you were only a blind beggar. The priests certainly would have wanted him gone, and Bartimaeus was preventing that. And the curious wouldn't have been able to hear. So everyone wanted Bartimaeus to shut up. There are times in our lives when we know that we have to say something, and no one is going to keep us quiet, and it was just such a moment for Bartimaeus. He knew that he could do nothing about his circumstances, he knew he needed help, and was bound and determined to meet the one person who he believed could help him. It's obvious from this short passage that he had come to understand that it required of him a commitment to seek out Jesus and surrender himself. No one was going to silence him, and the noise indeed got Jesus' attention. Bartimaeus called out.

Mark tells us that when Jesus called him he was so eager to respond that he cast off his hindering cloak so that he could run to Jesus more quickly. Here was his moment of decision. Bartimaeus moved toward Jesus. He had faith, he trusted, and he asked for help. He genuinely believed Jesus could help him, could heal him. That's a powerful faith statement.

For Jesus as for Bartimaeus this was an important moment. Think about what's happened in the past weeks - we've heard him talk about the nature of discipleship, pointing to hard ideals, to the cost and the pain, to that type of selfless living that surrenders a focus on possessions for a focus on love. And we've seen the disciples fail to understand all the talk, and instead squabble about who would sit on his right and left hand in glory. Jesus knew he was reaching a climax in his life, and as he did so the people closest to him seemed completely oblivious to it.

So at this moment both Bartimaeus and Jesus stand at a crossroads.

And Jesus asked Bartimaeus the all-important question: "what do you want me to do for you?" And the answer came immediately: "let me receive my sight." Look at the contrast with the recent request from James and John to sit at Jesus' right hand. Look at the contrast with the rich young man wanting to know about eternal life. Bartimaeus believed Jesus can heal him and asked him to do so. I think its clear here that Jesus was really touched by Bartimaeus' faith in him. And what did he say? "Go your way, your faith has made you whole." And Bartimaeus does go his way, the only possible way he could now take because now there was no other way for him.

He followed Jesus. What a powerful moment.

There's something else about this story. This is the last act in Jesus' life before he entered Jerusalem for the last time. The Day of Palms is just around the corner. Rather than closing his public ministry with profound teaching, with great and mighty statements of faith, Jesus' exclamation mark on his life is in a simple act of kindness toward a beggar who had made up his mind to reach out.

That's why, among the first Christians, this was one of the most loved stories about Jesus, and was told again and again, because it illustrates in simple and moving terms what discipleship is all about. It speaks volumes about the nature of faith and love.

There are times in all of our lives when we feel like we're journeying along blindfolded. Unexpected problems, strange twists of fate, things that we feel are unjustified, a world that's often confusing and almost always arbitrary: all of them can make us feel like we're blind to what's really going on around us. Bartimaeus story calls us to make a positive commitment to God, a commitment of the heart which is based on prayerful reflection; a commitment of faith that's eager to respond, and lives out of the love that God has put in all our hearts. Understanding isn't a requirement- it certainly wasn't for Bartimaeus. All that matters is the committed response of a faithful heart. That's certainly what underpins our lives as stewards. And that's the story of the gospels, all of them, and it's a story of healing and of thanksgiving. The glory and the triumph of Jesus ministry even as he heads for Calvary - is that it is always about healing and thanksgiving. And remember folks, as Christians that's our story if we claim it.

This story is the Gospel for us. It offers us healing and it offers us hope and it invites us to give thanks. When we're confronted with all of the complexities of living, our response needs to be out of a faith that is simple and sure, that moves us toward Jesus, and asks for his grace to be with us, and, finally, draws us onto the pathway as his disciples. And then we will go our way - which, of course, is Jesus' way too because our faith will have made all things well. AMEN.