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The Rev. Frank
Logue
Do you want to see again? A man walks into a bar. Coming out of the still bright afternoon sun, it takes a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. In the corner he sees someone he would swear he’s seen before and asks the bartender, “Is that really him?” The bartender replies, “I think so.” The man says, “Could you send him over a beer for me?” “No problem,” the bartender says, pours up a beer and takes it to the man at the corner table who then holds up the beer and smiles back in thanks. A little later a second man comes in, sees the man in the corner and buys him a drink. Once again, the man holds up the beer, smiles and thanks. The second man grabs a bar stool by the first. Sometime later a third man comes in and once again, the man in the corner booth has a free beer delivered to his table. Then this man too takes a stool at the bar. Time passes, the man at the corner table runs his fingers through his long hair and beard, stands, straightens his flowing robe and walks by the bar on his way out. “Can I pray for you to be healed,” Jesus asks the first man. “Yes,” he says pleadingly. Jesus lays hands on him, prays and the man breaks into tears. Hugs Jesus and says thank you. “May I pray for you to be healed,” Jesus asks the second man who immediately agrees and soon he is stretching out his hands, arms, legs testing them and says it’s the first time in years he hasn’t been wracked with pain in his joints. As he approaches, the third man says, “Hey now. Don’t be prayin’ for me. I just thought it’d be nice if I bought you a beer,” he explains. Jesus asked, “Don’t you want to be healed?” “Nah man. I’m on disability.” In the Monty Python movie Life of Brian, there is a man going around begging for money, declaring himself a “former leper.” When questioned about it, he explains that Jesus healed him even though he preferred begging. They are funny enough jokes. Funny enough, unless you’re the one on disability who just wants to fell good enough to work. But they are funny. But the jokes intentionally miss the point of course. Especially when you consider our Gospel reading alongside the former leper and the guy who wants to buy Jesus a beer, but not be healed. Jesus and his disciples are leaving Jericho en route to Jerusalem. The 18 miles of road are what separate Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem and the last week before his crucifixion. Jesus and his disciples would have been surrounded, not just by his followers, but other pilgrims heading to Jerusalem for Passover. It was a great spot for a beggar and it was Bartimaeus place. Beside the road our of Jericho, Bartimaeus cries out for Jesus calling, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” This is a royal title as the Sons of David were kings and it was also a title for the Messiah. Bartimaeus is making a faith claim as he calls out through the crowd to Jesus. The blind man knows who Jesus is. It is supposed to be a bit ironic that even a blind man can see that Jesus is the Messiah, especially since his disciples have just shown themselves to be a bit blinded spiritually. The story immediately before Bartimaeus was of James and John wanting Jesus to grant for each of them to sit alongside him in his glory. They didn’t see that they were to serve others. The disciples were still looking for glory. Now the blind beggar comes into the story and becomes a model disciple. Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” and the crowd tries to quiet him down. When Jesus stops and has Bartimaeus called to him, the beggar throws off his cloak. This is significant. Beggars laid their cloaks open on the road and used them to collect alms. In leaving his cloak as he goes after Jesus, he is leaving behind his life as a beggar. Then Jesus asks the improbable, “What do you want me to do for you?” It is the questions that shows the jokes I began with to be a lie. From the time, the angel appeared to Mary with a request, Jesus whole life has been an open question rather than a preset answer. Jesus asks. And here he asks Bartimaeus what he wants. It is possible that he wants something other than healing for his eyes. But Bartimaeus’ reply is unlike the man in the joke who wants to stay on disability and it’s unlike the former leper collecting alms in Monty Python’s movie. Bartimaeus says, “My teacher, let me see again.” The words my teacher are Rabbouni in Aramaic. “My Rabbi” we might say. They are the term of a disciple for his or her beloved teacher. Jesus tells him “Go, your faith has made you well.” But Bartimaeus doesn’t go anywhere but to Jerusalem with Jesus. But Mark’s Greek is more loaded that that for he says that Bartimaeus followed Jesus, “one the way.” Many of you will recall that “The Way” was the first name for Christianity. At the time this Gospel was written around the year 60 or so, Christianity was The Way and those who trusted in Jesus were in the way or on the way. It is significant that Bartimaeus who could now see would follow on the way. And perhaps most significant that it was so clearly the way of the cross for Jesus will be crucified within the week for just 18 miles up the road and in the very next scene in the Gospel, Jesus and his disciples, including now Bartimaeus, will enter Jerusalem in triumph with the crowd waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna.” But we don’t yet want to take the road that far. For now, we stay at the gate outside Jericho. Where lies a beggar’s cloak and bowl for alms. Soon it will be picked up and used by another or sold. But for now they lie in the dust, testimony to a blind man who saw clearly who Jesus is. Bartimaeus first words to Jesus were not, “Heal me!” or even “Pray for me!” Bartimaeus called out in faith naming who Jesus is and asking for whatever Jesus would give him. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” It is such a great approach that most weeks we sing or say Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord have mercy as we begin our worship. In a few minutes, we will offer a time of healing prayer. I have some olive oil, blessed by our Bishop for healing prayers and I have a prayer I will say as I lay my hands on those who come forward, I make a sign of the cross on the forehead with oil saying, I lay my hands upon you in the Name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit and pray that God’s Holy and life-giving presence will flow through you now touching you in body, mind and spirit, healing you and making you whole. In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. Amen. Notice that what I pray with you for is healing of body, mind and spirit. It is the meaning of that Hebrew word shalom, which we often translate as “peace.” Health and wholeness in body, mind and spirit. What I want for you as I pray is God’s mercy, love and grace. Whatever it is that God has for you. You can as Bartimaeus did be honest about what it is you want. You may come for something specific of which you need to be healed whether it is physical, as a disease, or emotional, as in healing in grief or other emotional distress. But whatever you come for, please come as Bartimaeus did. Try to leave behind the old even as you come up and pray for the new. Bartimaeus left behind his cloak. His life of begging was over even as he walked toward Jesus. Leave your problems in your seat. Come up for a touch, not from me, but from God, and return with the shalom God has for you. No one will be expected to come and no one will be compelled in any way. We won’t sing endless choruses of Just As I Am. I expect that many will remain in your seats. That’s fine. In fact, we trust that every worship service we hold is a healing service. I know I think of communion that way even if there is no laying on of hands for healing. Coming to be in God’s presence in worship is healing for me. Again and again, I come blond and am allowed to see. And then after the worship, we know the service will begin. Just as Bartimaeus didn’t go back to an earlier life but followed Jesus on the way, so to are we called to leave this worship for a life of service following Jesus on the way taking with us the healing we receive in this place. Amen.
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