Lectionary Reflection — Proper 25 (30) (Year B)
 |
| Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse Getty Images |
46 Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” 48 Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him forward.”
They called the blind man, “Be encouraged! Get up! He’s calling you.”
50 Throwing his coat to the side, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see.”
52 Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus on the way.
Other readings: Jeremiah 31.7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 7.23-28
I had a blog all ready to post today but then news broke about another mass shooting. This time, it was in a Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The gunman killed 11 elderly Jewish people for no other reason than their faith. It’s been reported that the killer wanted “all Jews to die.”2 The current president said the Synagogue should have had armed guards.
In the previous couple of weeks, pipe bombs were mailed to several people (politically progressive) who are critical of the current administration. The people targeted are politically progressive actors, lawyers, and politicians.
It seems every day another cell phone video appears where someone is spewing hate-speech at a person of color, LGBTQ person, or other minority.
And almost daily, the current president seems intent on inciting some sort of act of violence often spouting hatred, lies, and name-calling, usually at the expense of the victims. He’s even on record bragging about sexually assaulting women and threatening military action against migrants seeking refuge in this country. It’s been shown that when the current president rants about people who are different from himself, hate crimes against those types of people go up.
Our Lesson today shows something very similar. When Bartimaeus calls out for mercy (mercy of all things!), he’s scolded and told to shut up by those claiming to follow Jesus. The word translated “scolded” is ἐπιτιμάω (epitimaō) and can mean, “to honor, to mete out due measure, to censure” depending on the context. So, it seems that the rebuke was meant to silence Bartimaeus. He was probably even threatened.3
The case of Bartimaeus resembles another situation where the disciples asked Jesus who sinned causing the man’s blindness (John 9.1-2). Those who scolded Bartimaeus may have the same attitude. “Bartimaeus, you’re obviously in sin so you better keep your mouth shut or else!” Too often people who claim to follow Jesus threaten and ridicule others, especially when those others are thought to be living in sin. Sometimes marginalized people aren’t granted the same rights and services as “regular” people simply because they’re different or others don’t approve of the way their living.
But what does Jesus do? I’m sure to the shock of some of his followers, he calls for Bartimaeus. And just like that, the attitude of some of the people changed.4 This shows us the impact of our leaders. If Jesus had said, like the current president, “Somebody knock the crap out of him,”5 someone probably would have.
Followers of Jesus can’t let this type of thing continue. We must speak out to those in power. We’re all brothers and sisters because of the work of Christ (Matthew 12.50; Galatians 3.28; etc.). Jesus said to treat other people the way we want to be treated (Matthew 7.12). And I don’t know anyone who wants to be murdered while at the movies or in worship. This type of behaviour, friends, is hatred and not love. We’re lying to ourselves if we think otherwise. John wrote:
God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. 17 This is how love has been perfected in us, so that we can have confidence on the Judgment Day, because we’re exactly the same as God is in this world. 18 There’s no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear expects punishment. The person who’s afraid hasn’t been made perfect in love. 19 We love because God first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates a brother or sister, that person is a liar, because the person who doesn’t love a brother or sister who can be seen can’t love God, who can’t be seen. 21 This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also (1 John 4.16-21; adapted).
So, beloved, love each other. Let’s demand that these things end. Let’s demand that our leaders speak for all people and stop this foolishness. Let’s stand up and walk with those in the margins. Let’s embrace those whose beliefs are not our own. Let’s have dinner with others who look differently than we do. Let’s call each other “sister” and “brother” even if they love differently than we do.
For this is The Way of Jesus.
~~~
In the Love of the Three in One,
Br. Jack+, LC
~~~
1. Scripture quotations marked (CEB) are taken from The Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.
3. ἐπιτιμάω has been translated as “warned” in several places.
4. I say “some” because, as we’ve seen from the stories linked above, I’m sure some people following Jesus continued to think Bartimaeus didn’t deserve to be healed. Even if — and probably because of — society embraces the diversity of its people, some people will have hatred burning within their heart towards others because they’re different. When given “permission” (like the tweets of a sitting president), they’ll act on that hatred.
Comments