By the Rev’d Lucy Nguyen
Season: Ordinary Time
Readings: Job 42:1-6, 10-17 | Hebrew 7:38-28 | Mark 10:46-52
In preparing for this morning, I was reminded of the classic tale of asking 5 blind men to describe an elephant. And we all know that while they each felt the same elephant, they described a very different beast. The earliest versions of the parable of blind men and the elephant are found in Buddhist, Hindu and Jain texts, in the discourse of the limitations of perception and the importance of complete context. (1) The initial link for me and others when reviewing the texts for this morning is that our Gospel text from Mark tells of the Blind Beggar Bartimaeus.
The 5 blind men tale later became well known in Europe, with 19th-century American poet John Godfrey Saxe creating his own version as a poem, with a final verse that explains that the elephant is a metaphor for God, and the various blind men represent religions that disagree on something no one has fully experienced. (1)
That image of the elephant and 5 people each getting a different experience of it is quite useful when we consider with our 21st eyes the vast array of competing world views which vie for our attention, our money, our hearts. And the confusion we may experience, the blindness if we get too one-eyed or worse perhaps just blind to it all because it is “all too much”.
Thankfully for us, and we believe, all the world, our morning readings reminds us of that understanding of God whose, we believe, creative hand is all over everything, has a definite bias toward transformative restoration, healing. (2)
- Remember, Job after all his trials has a transforming encounter with God and is restored beyond the prosperity he had enjoyed before his trial. (2)
- In Hebrews Jesus is portrayed as the one who intercedes for God’s people and who offered himself as the only necessary sacrifice for restoration and healing. (2)
- And in the Gospel, our focused text this morning, Bartimaeus receives his sight, which not only restores his vision, but also his life.
So back to this thinking about how even when we’re all using our eyes and looking at the same thing, we will have different perceptions of what we’re seeing and experiencing.
As Christians in the public spaces, spaces which may look like the bread aisle of Woolworths, the petrol que at Gulf, the downstairs door of our Food Bank, the first thing we must do is acknowledge that we will see and experience things differently than others, even amongst ourselves! One is not necessarily right or better, they are different.
How often have you gathered round a table with colleagues, family or friends to decide on something or to plan an event and in your mind the decision, the solution, the purpose is quite obvious in your mind and as people at the table begin to share their thoughts your struck perhaps happily (or not) by how many other ideas, insights there can be when you had felt sure of your way. And often the solution is an amalgamation of many of the ideas – which makes it richer and perhaps more widely relevant. Working together helps us see the bigger picture.
Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wanted, and Bartimaeus was quite clear, he wanted to see. That was the single most important thing for him. Writers comment that Mark’s narrative may apply to spiritual blindness as much as it seemingly speaks of physical healing. Jesus sees Bartimaeus, and yes, he is touched by his blindness but also his poverty and social isolation. (3) In healing his sight – Jesus heals or transforms Bartimaeus’ life.
“Transformation is liberation from being stuck, change from being self-centered to being God-centered. It is the giving way of blind eyes and a closed heart to the freeing perspective of compassion and hope.” (3) The story of Bartimaeus can invite us to consider the competing world views (4) which we, our family and friends encounter daily. This story can also provide us with ways into conversation with others. Bart looks to Jesus for healing. Where does the world look for the greatest truth of the highest good? The power of seeing is what Bartimaeus sought. What power or leaders does the world revere most? From where you expect salvation or recovery to come? (4)
You know: “yes” it can be comforting to have our outward circumstances restored. However, it is only when our hearts are restored, when we are delivered from the fear, self-protection, defensiveness, and isolation our brokenness or suffering has brought on us that we are truly restored. (2)
As Christians it is communal restoration we seek. As much as individualism might sparkle and be enshrined in our current economic systems, social policies, education and governance, as Christians it is communal restoration we seek.
When have you thought you understood something and then someone showed you a different way of doing it and it was like a revelation of understanding?! ….
You may well recall the biographical notes of John Newton. Newton was an English slave trader who later wrote the book Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade, a graphic account of his experiences aboard slave ships that included a repentant confession of his personal involvement in the trade. He had become an Anglican minister, a hymn writer, a noted abolitionist. Newton is best known for the hymn “Amazing Grace.” (3a) “I was blind but now I see”. Having survived a storm at sea Newton spoke of a changing power that turned his “blindness” into sight. Amazing Grace is his response to that moment –“I was blind but now I see”.
Mark’s narrative speaks of a total transformation. The key to Bartimaeus’ story and our first two readings is that they are about restoration, and particularly the restoration of relationships, especially with God. (2) My invitation, Scripture’s invitation, God’s call … is to see more clearly the world, our place in it and to consider what the gospel allows us to see that others may not be seeing (4). And in response to that invitation, we become aware of what we are missing when we don’t see things together. If we continually go it alone, our vision is very limited. The pursuit of individual happiness and success is a false economy.
Jesus reaches out to us – let us in Christ’s mystery and ministry reach out to others in restoring right relationships, health and wellbeing so we too may be part of healing for others and ourselves. Let us be in community and engaged to listen, hear and see the needs of others. Let us not be blinded to others reality simply because we haven’t reached out far enough to touch the truth of their lives. Jesus will guide you, guide us as a community as we look out beyond ourselves and engage together. Bartimaeus didn’t walk away, he followed Jesus on his way. May our way be the way of Jesus and may we be amazed and filled withs God’s grace. Amen.
Bibliography
(2) Van de Laar
(3) Wolfgang H Stahlberg Feasting on the Gospels Year B
(3a) https://www.britannica.com/question/Why-did-John-Newton-write-Amazing-Grace
(4) Karen Chakoian Feasting on the Gospels Year B