The Way of Community

And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. From Mark 10:46-52

This healing story of Bartimaeus is one of my favorite stories in scripture. In many ways I think it is a good metaphor for the spiritual journey. We have areas where we need to be healed, so we can more closely follow Jesus. We likely have an external and internal crowd of voices that tends to hush us rather than expose our need quite so readily. But the crowd is also able to learn in this situation. Their first impulse might have been to ask Bartimaeus to be quiet, but they are also the same crowd that encourage him to approach Jesus; to take heart that the teacher is asking him to approach. 

The interchange between the blind man and Jesus is also important. Jesus asks the person, who needs healing, what he needs. Of all people, one would imagine that Jesus already knew the answer or perhaps it would seem obvious that Bartimaeus is blind. What else would he ask for? And yet, Jesus grants Bartimaeus the agency to say what he desires, and that is the movement of faith that is an important step in healing. But the story doesn’t stop there; upon regaining his sight, he follows Jesus on the way.

We at St. Mark’s have been focusing on a process to engage in “the way.” With our spiritual life inventory last year, we noted our desire to grow more intentionally in our spiritual lives. In the world’s terms that might seem somewhat ambiguous. How might we measure such a thing? How will we know when we get there? I think Bartimaeus and the crowd provide a model. From the time of our baptism and every baptism we witness, we commit to a way of life. We have a unique orientation, and it requires a set of practices to grow in our faith. I suspect we have many moments of blindness and restoration, times when we are encouraging someone to seek healing and times when we might experience barriers to accessing what we most need, but in none of these scenarios do we figure it out alone. Jesus is often mediated through others.

Our annual meeting is this Sunday at 9:15. We will have a chance to hear reflections from the past year and highlight the ways in which we have intentionally gathered as community to deepen our faith. We will affirm the slate of those who are new to serving on the vestry and thank those who have given so selflessly. Please join us in community as we give thanks for the past year and look with energy at what is to come. At our worship services we will also give thanks for all God has given us as we make our financial pledges for 2025. Your presence is important. I look forward to seeing you! 

Peace, Beth +