Meditation On Mark 10. 46-52

Proper 25B/Ordinary 30B/Pentecost 23 Reading From the Gospels Mark 10:46-52 As Jesus left Jericho with the disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and to say, "Descendant of David, Jesus, have pity on me." And many of them scolded him and told him to be quiet, but Bartimaeus only shouted all the louder, "Descendant of David, have pity on me!" "Be courage," they said, "get up; Jesus is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke,"What do you want me to do for you" "Rabbuni," the blind man said, "Let me see again." Jesus said,"Go; your faith has saved you." And immediately his sight returned and Bartimaeus followed him along the road. Brief Meditation On the Gospel Reading There is little we know about Bartimaeus. All that we do know is found in his name. The first part of his name (Bar-) is an ancient means of indicating that he is the "son" of a man whose name is Timaeous. The blind son of Timaeous sought Jesus' help on that dayin Jericho. That he is named at all is somewhat unusual. Most of the people that Jesus encountered ashe traveled from place to place, except for the inner core of disiciples, remain nameless. Why place this "once removed" name on the man with blindness? We cannot be sure. Is it for symbolic reference? Is it to point to a time and place in history? Is it just something we, two millenia into the future, just cannot explain? Biblical scholars argue all three of those possibilities. But in the end, we have a less than full identification of who was healed from a life with blindness. We are once again reminded that Jesus reaches out and cares for the unknown, the broken, those on the fringe of society, and the least of those according to cultural bias. Bartimaeous was not only livinng with blindness, but he was also reduced to a beggar, such reduction being not his reality but the reality of a world that dismisses and ignores those with disabilities. Thus, we are challenged to think of two different peoples that are suffering blindness. Yes, Bartimaeous is the one partially named. The others are all those around him who because of their cultural and personal bias could not see him as a real, complete, and living person. To them he is the blind beggar whom they tolerate until he becomes vocally disruptive. But, the blindness of those people there had another dimension. They not only dismissed Bartimaeous as less than human, but was blind to the possibilities that came into the city that day. Jesus represents the presence of a God who not only loves, but whose love is found in caring for those in need. The people try to hush Bartimeous, not simply because they were tired of his raised voice . . . or even that his voice uttered the words "son of David." The former was a clear reminder of how vulnerable and in need we as people are and can be. The later was placing a name upon the one who came that day, the naming by a "son of Timaeous" who names Jesus as the "bar-David." Hmmm . . . names and naming . . . names of relationship and connectedness . . . the sons of others. Of course, naming Jesus as "son of David" was seeing beyond blindness who Jesus was. From the Davidic linage here was Jesus, Bartimaeous seeing the bigger picture of who this healer was. It was only those gathered there that speak the name of Jesus. Bartimaeous never does. For, you see, the ones who tried to silence a cry for help are they who now say, "Get up . . . Jesus is calling you." Get up? Other translations expand the words into a indicative that is somewhat negative. Perhaps it was heard in their voice . . . the way ableists say "get yourself together" . . . "get up and out of that place you choose for yourself" . . . "grab those bootstraps and yank" . . . "come on, already, you've been a challenge to deal with, get up and get fixed, already." Nonetheless, while this less that dignified statement reaches the ears of Jesus, Bartimaeous is speaking to the one who asks, "What can I do for you?" "Give me sight . . . grant me vision . . . provide me insight . . . let me see." There's no mention of a healing concoction as in other stories of Jesus healing the blind. There is not even an indication that the interaction was anything more than words exchanged. Yet, within that exchange, there is healing . . . there is seeing the worth and dignity of a person with a disability . . . there is a humanization of one only known before as the "son of Timaeous, the blind beggar nuiccance . . . the guy who must have sinned or is evil in some way because God inflicted him with blindness." That is how it still plays out in our world. If someone is poor . . . or with a disability . . . or of the pecking order deemed less than human . . . it is certainly God's way of punishing their wrong doings. Just as the other side of the coin plays itself out . . . God blessed the wealthy with prosperity because they are good, God-fearing people whom we can be like if we just knew the truth that God rewards the good and curses the bad. The lesson in today's Gospel reading should make us feel really uncomfortable. It should make us ponder how we see ourselves and others . . . what we think about ourselves and others. It is a word undoing the social order and the cultural bias that the status quo is built upon. It is a call to wake up and see things for what they are. It is a promise that vision and insight can overcome the ills of the world. It is a word of hope. It is a word of justice. It is a word of loving-kindness. It is a humbling word. And, as the story concludes . . . Batimaeous follows Jesus in the Way. May we be in the Way of Jesus, as well.