This Sunday we have another story where Jesus asks the question: “What do you want me to do for you?” Last Sunday, it was two cousins who ask Jesus for special privileges so they might share in his glory, little realising the 'glory' Jesus was referring to was the cross, and the 'glory' they would receive was the privilege of martyrdom for James, and incarceration and a lingering death for John.
This Sunday's Gospel is almost the opposite of last week's Gospel. Mark 10: 46-52 is about Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who wants to regain his sight. In many ways this is a story about restoring hope to someone who had none; someone who had been relegated to an uncertain future and a life of fear, insecurity and loneliness in a world full of inequality. The Clinical Psychologist and interfaith minister, John C. Robinson, suggests the feelings and life Bartimaeus faced as a blind person is not so far removed from the experience many face in a Covid-world of rising global catastrophe. Robinson goes on to suggest five dimensions that help when confronted by crisis1. We find them all illustrated within the Gospel story of Bartimaeus:
1. Practical: Bartimaeus presents as a practical person. He used every means at his disposal to captured Jesus attention, and to receive his life-changing healing. He then responds by becoming a follower of Jesus. Robinson suggests the first thing we need to do when faced with a crisis is to be practical. To make sure we have the basics of food, water, shelter, healthcare and safety. We also, need to be like Bartimaeus and be informed on what is happening around us and react accordingly.
2. Psychological: Pandemics can evoke a lot of negative feelings that arise from being isolated from the normal course of our lives. Enforced isolation can breed negative feelings such as fear, depression and hopelessness. The best cure is to ask for help and to be there for others. We see this reflected in the Gospel story. As a blind beggar on the side of the road, Bartimaeus was totally dependent upon the charity of others. Rather than remaining isolated in his blindness, he turns to his neighbours for support.
3. Spiritual: We know nothing of Bartimaeus' faith – except he had heard Jesus could heal people. We all have our personal hopes and beliefs. These give shape to our values and meaning to our life. They may be religious and spiritual beliefs. Or they may be based on our experiences of awe and wonder of the natural world around us. They can include the significant people with whom we share our life. One of the gifts a spirituality can provide, is support, hope and love in times of crisis. It can also give us comfort and new meaning in our struggles – and new hope to face the future.
4. Mystical: Spiritual beliefs often relate to things we have been taught and to our minds. Mystical events relate to first-hand experiences of the sacred in everyday life. Bartimaeus, for example, wasn't content knowing that Jesus had healed people – he desperately wanted to experience healing for himself. We all have had mystical experiences. These may include falling in love, sensing the stillness in a forest or an empty Church, holding our newborn baby for the first time, being stunned by the beauty of a sunset. In all these moments we perceive the boundaries of our life and world are not as fixed and physical as they might appear on the surface. We may have a fleeting sense of an interconnectedness that holds everything together. As Eckhart Toole has observed:
“Underneath the surface appearance, everything is not only connected with everything else,
but also with the Source of all life out of which it came”.2
but also with the Source of all life out of which it came”.2
5. The Wisdom of the Sage: Robinson also suggests:
“We create our most mature self” as we integrate and utilize the practical knowledge
and insight acquired over the years of life experience.
This provides us with not only knowledge and practical and skills,
but also the wisdom of one who can provide meaningful and inspiring leadership.”
and insight acquired over the years of life experience.
This provides us with not only knowledge and practical and skills,
but also the wisdom of one who can provide meaningful and inspiring leadership.”
We don't know how old Bartimaeus was, but the wisdom he demonstrates is not limited to age. In many ways, the focus in the Gospel story is not the healing of Bartimaeus' physical blindness, but his response to his healing. He leaves everything to follow Jesus just as the other early disciples had done. And it is important to remember that Jesus' life was spent mainly with those who were vulnerable, poor and homeless. In this way, Bartimaeus offers us a more authentic model of what it means to be a follower of Jesus compared to James and John in last week's Gospel. James and John wanted recognition and power. However, they had still had to learn that the Way of Jesus is one of service to others who may be struggling in our communities.
Kia mau te rongo me te pai ki a koe i to haerenga
May you find peace and good will on your journey.
Phil
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1https://politicaltheology.com/the-politics-of-discipleship-mark-1046-52/
2https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2567181-a-new-earth-awakening-to-your-life-s-purpose?page=19
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