30th Sunday Ordinary (B)/Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus
 

Jer. 31:7-9/ Ps     / Heb 5:1-6 / Mk 10:46-52
   
  Introduction
         There is an old African legend on how the ducks learned to swim. There was a duck that loves watching a Heron diving into a river to catch fresh fish.  His chicken friend advised him to stop dreaming of being like a Heron, because he has a big body and once he steps on the water for sure he sinks. But that did not discourage him. One day the Heron noticed the duck was feeling so sad, so he stopped for a while and asked the duck. The duck said, “I long to be like you, good swimmer.” The heron said, “Before, I was like you, so afraid to swim but my hunger for fresh fish pushed me into the water and now I can swim.” With that encouragement the duck dives into the water and found himself floating freely on the water. The heron gave him an opportunity to find his own identity, receive his dignity and bring all his potentials to the full.  
   
  Background
  1.

In the ancient Semitic world, a “Name” expresses the personality or destiny of a person.  Bartimaeus literally mean, in Aramaic “son/person of defilement (tame’).” This could, therefore, be a nickname given to him because he was a blind beggar. Popular theology among the Hebrews held blindness to be a punishment from God for sin or defilement (John 9:34). But the Greek version of the name could also be understood as “son/person of honor” (timÉ). This would indicate the man’s inner nature and destiny. By giving us the name Bartimaeus with its double meaning, Mark could be telling us that here is a man who is supposed to be a man of honor and dignity (timÉ) but living in a state of dishonor and shame (tame’).

It was unusual to name a particular person in a Gospel. Maybe he was a known personality during the time of Mark. But because of his blindness he was degraded and thrown into the streets to beg. What Jesus did for him was not simply restoring his physical sight but, over and above that, was to restore his God-given human dignity once again.

 
     
  2.

Jesus was on his way to the Passover and the road to Jerusalem ran right through Jericho. (It was only about 15 miles from Jerusalem.) As a distinguished teacher, it was a custom that he will be surrounded by a crowd of people, disciples and learners, who was listening to him as he discoursed while he was walking. This was the common way of teaching then.

Every male Jew who was over 12 years old must attend the Passover. Those who were unable to do so were in the habit of lining the streets of towns and villages to bid their goodbyes. At the Northern gate sat a beggar, Bartimaeus. When he heard that Jesus was coming, he set an uproar to attract Jesus’ attention to him. Even though some people tried to stop him; but he would not let the chance of escaping from the “world of darkness” slip through his hands.

  
     
  3.

“Mercy” did not mean then what it means to us now. In that day, “Mercy” meant the willingness to pay debts. Bartimaeus, in asking for Mercy, implied that Jesus owed him a healing, Jesus did! Being recognized as the Messiah from the line of David put Jesus in the position of power. It was expected that those who have power, must assist those who have none. Because of his faith Jesus granted his request.

In return, Bartimaeus owed Jesus a huge gift he had received; he kicked off his cloak and followed Jesus. As a blind man he used to lay down his cloak on the ground for the people to give alms to help him. He kicked off his cloak, alms and all, aside and followed Jesus. He felt that he was a new man and he clearly discarded the old life. For him material security has no more value anymore. The real security was following Jesus and serving him for the rest of his life.

 
       
  Reflections  
  1. When he was a called by Jesus, he cast off his hindering cloak and run to Jesus so quickly. Many a man hears the call of Jesus but still buying more time to response, “wait until I have done this.” Bartimeous came like a shot when Jesus called him. Certain chances happen only once.  Sometimes we have a desire to abandon some habit, to purify ourselves of wrong doing. So very often we do not act on them right away- and only later we realize that the chance is gone, perhaps never to come back. When you had a chance to pray, learn to take that opportunity to sit down and pray sincerely or say sorry perhaps. In this busy and tiring world, you will never know if you will have any chance to pray again especially when you come home at a very long day from work. I am afraid that we would rather keep “the bed” and forget “the prayer.”  
       
  2. He knew precisely what he wanted. When we go the dentist we do not ask him to extract any tooth but the one with the diseased. It should also with us and Jesus. We should have a good moment of self examination; to say specifically what do we want Jesus to do for us. Jesus wants you to feel that the blessings he is giving to you are the things that you are asking for, things that you like most.  
       
  3. Bartimaeus had a quite inadequate conception of Jesus. Son of David is a title for a conquering Messiah, than of a suffering servant. But in spite of that, Bartimaeus had faith. He might not get the correct theology, but he had a heart of a true Christian disciple who wants to follow Jesus and learn. Christianity begins with a personal reaction to Jesus, a reaction of love, feeling that here is the one person who can meet our need. Even if we are never able to have our faith theologically, that response of the human heart is enough.  
     
  Conclusion  
 

Batimaeus is a man of gratitude. Having received his sight, he followed Jesus. He did not selfishly go his way when his need was met. He began with need, went on to gratitude, and finished with loyalty – this is what is meant by discipleship.