Blind Bartimaeus. A blind man sitting beside the gate of the city begging. He heard that Jesus was coming and he called out. Those around him were annoyed by the spectacle he was causing and told him to shut up. But Jesus heard Bartimaeus and called him over. He asked Bartimaeus what he wanted, and Bartimaeus said he wanted his sight back. Jesus, said, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Bartimaeus regained his sight and followed Jesus.
Is this just a story about the miracle power of Jesus to heal a blind man? I don’t think so … I think it is much more than that. As far as I’m concerned, maybe the story literally happened or maybe it didn’t. That isn’t the point for me. The author of Mark’s gospel chose to include this story as he wrote about Jesus at least a generation after Jesus died, and I don’t think it was to just show that Jesus had some miraculous power to heal people. This is about someone who had lost their vision and then regained it … and then he followed Jesus. Bartimaeus was now taking seriously what Jesus took seriously. For me this story is about having a vision … not just eyesight, but vision … and about what happens if vision is lost, and what can happen if vision is regained. This is about one’s own vision, a vision shared by a family, and a vision shared by a community such as St. Cyprian’s. And to empower any vision one needs resources. This story is also a story about the currency of God and the currency of the world.
Is this just a story about the miracle power of Jesus to heal a blind man? I don’t think so … I think it is much more than that. As far as I’m concerned, maybe the story literally happened or maybe it didn’t. That isn’t the point for me. The author of Mark’s gospel chose to include this story as he wrote about Jesus at least a generation after Jesus died, and I don’t think it was to just show that Jesus had some miraculous power to heal people. This is about someone who had lost their vision and then regained it … and then he followed Jesus. Bartimaeus was now taking seriously what Jesus took seriously. For me this story is about having a vision … not just eyesight, but vision … and about what happens if vision is lost, and what can happen if vision is regained. This is about one’s own vision, a vision shared by a family, and a vision shared by a community such as St. Cyprian’s. And to empower any vision one needs resources. This story is also a story about the currency of God and the currency of the world.
22 Pentecost
October 25, 2015
In the name of the God of all creation,
The God alive in each of us as God was alive in Jesus,
And the power of God known in the Spirit.
Amen.
October 25, 2015
In the name of the God of all creation,
The God alive in each of us as God was alive in Jesus,
And the power of God known in the Spirit.
Amen.
