The disciples, characterized by James and John, had wanted
Jesus to increase their own personal power. Their request to be
first among Jesus’ close disciples seemed to have been driven
by fear of what they might lose. Their request revealed a selfish
and narrow ambition to protect and enhance their influence with
Jesus. Bartimaeus, on the other hand, seemed to have heard that
Jesus was a compassionate rabbi and his mission involved bringing
peace and healing to a war-ravaged land and a wounded people.
Bartimaeus, too, had a personal request, but it was a brave
initiative based on trust in Jesus’ goodness. Bartimaeus
was very aware that right then he was lost; his existence was
hopeless and empty; and he was unable to take hold of any sort
of life in its fullness. He didn’t need be shown how to
be a more effective beggar; he needed an entirely new life from
the foundation up. Yes, he was in desperate straights and he knew
it. Jesus held out hope for a new future, not a protection or
insurance against losing the past.
The town of Jericho is the last town before Jerusalem.
Here travelers would stock up and happily anticipate their arrival
at the gates of the Holy City. The road leading out of Jericho
would provide an opportune time and place to beg. Travelers would
be refreshed and in a good mood, anticipating the end of their
journey. I always thought that Bartimaeus would be a good person
to head up a parish stewardship drive. He had the sense of good
timing and knew precisely when and where to strike.
There is an old, old story about a longtime and faithful
parishioner, who never wanted to be warden or chair of an important
committee, but worked tirelessly in support of her parish. When
she died, she requested that she be buried with a fork in her
hand. Her family thought this to be a pretty strange request until
they found a note written years ago: I always enjoyed parish dinners.
When it was announced keep your forks, I always knew that there
was dessert and something better coming along.
Bartimeaus did not instantly understand Jesus' mission
at the moment he regained his sight, but the story implies that
Bartimeaus had the right disposition; he was open and willing
to learn. While Jesus never made it a condition of his healing,
upon receiving his sight, Bartimaeus became a disciple. That the
Gospel remembers his name and who his father was may indicate
that he became a valued member of the early church. Once an outsider,
an opportunity of grace was offered him and he accepted it.
Today the Gospel is also asking each of us, what
do we really want from Jesus? Do we see Jesus as our errand boy
or as a consumer advocate satisfying the wants of our life or
do we recognize Jesus as leading us. No parish will ever grow
in greater spiritual maturity if the only question that is asked
by its people is framed in terms of “is the church meeting
our needs”. Parishes that are mature enough to feast on
solid food of the Gospel know that the critical questions always
involve testing “what is God’s call to us” and
asking “are we faithful to that call”. Are our expectations
of God too narrow and too confined? God’s call is not necessarily
opposed to personal ambition, but more importantly, God’s
call involves ultimately transforming who we are. H. G. Wells
said something to the effect that success is to be measured not
by wealth, powers or fame, but by the ratio between what one is
and what one hopes in. Perhaps that ratio explains the contrast
between Bartimaeus and others that day outside of Jericho
It doesn’t matter that much of what Bartimaeus was
healed or exactly what Bartimaeus did before he became blind.
What does matter is that on the way to Jerusalem, Bartimaeus received
life-changing insight, he recognized Jesus calling him, and instead
of trying to pick up where he had been before, he became a follower
into a new life. Bartimaeus, more than any of the other followers
that day, appears to be prepared to enter the gates of Jerusalem,
holding on to his fork.
