Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Mark 10: 46-52
Dear Friends,
For two and half chapters (Mk 8:22-10:52), Mark has Jesus challenging the disciples to realize his singular goal is to follow the Father’s will. In this commitment to go to Jerusalem there are clear consequences. He declared these consequences: rejection, suffering, death and the ultimate victory in the resurrection,
The Bartimaeus story concluding this section from Mark seems like a simple miracle story. It is much more than that. It is the story of what is a true disciple. It is a dialogue about faith.
After three predictions of the death on the Cross and the Resurrection, the disciples remain steeped in their confusion, blindness and growing fear.
In the story of Baritmaeus, Mark gives us the characteristics of a true and faithful disciple.
First of all, there is a hunger in the heart that leads one to look to Jesus. Bartimaeus would not let the crowd intimidate him as he continued to cry out until he received the call from Jesus. This rejection of the crowd’s effort to bully him, is simply an expression of Bartimaeus’ faith in Jesus.
Secondly, while Jesus had the same question for him that he had for James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mk 10: 51), the beggar is asking for more than money. Jesus understands. He gives Bartimaeus not only physical sight but the faith to embrace the journey with Jesus as a true disciple. Unlike the shameless ambition of the two brothers, the blind beggar seeks the gift of light from Jesus. This gift is a symbol of wisdom and truth that Jesus has been trying to teach the disciples. Mark’s description of Jesus’ journey is primarily about the question of who Jesus is and what must one do to join him on the road to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus accepts this truth.
Thirdly, when Jesus called, Bartimaeus cast away his cloak. This seemingly simple gesture is a very powerful and profound. The cloak was his only possession. He used it to lay out in front to beg for alms which were his only means of life’s necessities. Likewise, it was his only protection from the cold nights. Unlike the rich man who went away sad at Jesus’ plea to let go of his possessions, Bartimaeus, “threw aside his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus.” (Mk 10:50)
The first part of blind beggar’s response to Jesus’ call is in stark contrast to the confusion and fear of the disciples. “Immediately, he received his sight and followed him on the way.” (Mk 10:52)
In this section of Mark, focusing on the three passages foretelling the Death and Resurrection, Jesus is teaching us who he is and what it means that he is a Suffering Servant Messiah. This is the deepest revelation of God’s love for us.
The disciples will only share the integrity and clarity of Bartimaeus after the Resurrection. The angel will say to the women at the tomb. “go tell the disciples and Peter ‘He is going before you to Galilee, there you will see him.”” (Mk 16:7)
We can look to Bartimaeus and see what we have to do to be a disciple, one who walks with Jesus. The healing of the physical eyes leads to the opening of the eyes of the heart. Walking with Jesus is always a journey into the depth of the heart and beyond the superficial. The faith journey is always partial and incomplete at the beginning. Bartimaeus was making the way of Jesus his own. Full clarity for the eyes of the heart will demand much more. What counts for Bartimaeus and for us is to begin the journey in trusting faith.
First, we need to recognize the hunger in our heart. We are all blind in many different ways. We all need to go to Jesus to ask for the light that we may see with the determination of Bartimaeus.
Secondly, we need take Jesus on his terms and not impose our ambitions on Jesus as James and John did.
Thirdly, we need to recognize that any true following of Jesus will have a price to pay. We all have many things that are obstacles to following Jesus. Our “cloak” will be found in growing awareness of our attachments and addictions. They come in many different forms for all of us. These obstacles to true discipleship need to be cast away to follow Jesus. We have no choice other than to put our trust in Jesus. Walking with him on the road to Jerusalem is the only option for a true Christian life.
For two and half chapters (Mk 8:22-10:52), Mark has Jesus challenging the disciples to realize his singular goal is to follow the Father’s will. In this commitment to go to Jerusalem there are clear consequences. He declared these consequences: rejection, suffering, death and the ultimate victory in the resurrection,
The Bartimaeus story concluding this section from Mark seems like a simple miracle story. It is much more than that. It is the story of what is a true disciple. It is a dialogue about faith.
After three predictions of the death on the Cross and the Resurrection, the disciples remain steeped in their confusion, blindness and growing fear.
In the story of Baritmaeus, Mark gives us the characteristics of a true and faithful disciple.
First of all, there is a hunger in the heart that leads one to look to Jesus. Bartimaeus would not let the crowd intimidate him as he continued to cry out until he received the call from Jesus. This rejection of the crowd’s effort to bully him, is simply an expression of Bartimaeus’ faith in Jesus.
Secondly, while Jesus had the same question for him that he had for James and John, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mk 10: 51), the beggar is asking for more than money. Jesus understands. He gives Bartimaeus not only physical sight but the faith to embrace the journey with Jesus as a true disciple. Unlike the shameless ambition of the two brothers, the blind beggar seeks the gift of light from Jesus. This gift is a symbol of wisdom and truth that Jesus has been trying to teach the disciples. Mark’s description of Jesus’ journey is primarily about the question of who Jesus is and what must one do to join him on the road to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus accepts this truth.
Thirdly, when Jesus called, Bartimaeus cast away his cloak. This seemingly simple gesture is a very powerful and profound. The cloak was his only possession. He used it to lay out in front to beg for alms which were his only means of life’s necessities. Likewise, it was his only protection from the cold nights. Unlike the rich man who went away sad at Jesus’ plea to let go of his possessions, Bartimaeus, “threw aside his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus.” (Mk 10:50)
The first part of blind beggar’s response to Jesus’ call is in stark contrast to the confusion and fear of the disciples. “Immediately, he received his sight and followed him on the way.” (Mk 10:52)
In this section of Mark, focusing on the three passages foretelling the Death and Resurrection, Jesus is teaching us who he is and what it means that he is a Suffering Servant Messiah. This is the deepest revelation of God’s love for us.
The disciples will only share the integrity and clarity of Bartimaeus after the Resurrection. The angel will say to the women at the tomb. “go tell the disciples and Peter ‘He is going before you to Galilee, there you will see him.”” (Mk 16:7)
We can look to Bartimaeus and see what we have to do to be a disciple, one who walks with Jesus. The healing of the physical eyes leads to the opening of the eyes of the heart. Walking with Jesus is always a journey into the depth of the heart and beyond the superficial. The faith journey is always partial and incomplete at the beginning. Bartimaeus was making the way of Jesus his own. Full clarity for the eyes of the heart will demand much more. What counts for Bartimaeus and for us is to begin the journey in trusting faith.
First, we need to recognize the hunger in our heart. We are all blind in many different ways. We all need to go to Jesus to ask for the light that we may see with the determination of Bartimaeus.
Secondly, we need take Jesus on his terms and not impose our ambitions on Jesus as James and John did.
Thirdly, we need to recognize that any true following of Jesus will have a price to pay. We all have many things that are obstacles to following Jesus. Our “cloak” will be found in growing awareness of our attachments and addictions. They come in many different forms for all of us. These obstacles to true discipleship need to be cast away to follow Jesus. We have no choice other than to put our trust in Jesus. Walking with him on the road to Jerusalem is the only option for a true Christian life.
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