https://youtu.be/PqZnGadMrmoAsk God for what you need, trust it will be given, and be ready to be a part of God’s answer.
Pr. Joseph G. Crippen
Sunday of the Reformation, using Lect. 30 B
Text: Mark 10:46-52
Beloved in Christ, grace to you, and peace in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked Bartimaeus.
It’s a strange question. Isn’t it obvious? He’s blind, you can heal.
Except Bartimaeus asked Jesus for mercy. And Jesus has already given forgiveness to a paralyzed man before offering to heal. Maybe Jesus just wants some clarity. What do you really want me to do?
Or maybe Jesus is asking a deeply profound question. You have come to me, the Son of God, asking for mercy. What exactly is it that you want me to do for you?
The question’s partly practical.
Jesus wonders specifically what Bartimaeus wants. Healed eyes? Something else?
So if God-with-us looks you in the eye and asks, “what do you want me to do for you?” what will you say? Do you want courage to face these challenging times? Do you want your faith strengthened? Do you want hope? Do you want healing of your body, or mind, or soul?
On this Sunday when we celebrate the continuing reformation of the Church, and remember our roots, we know Christ’s people, whether institutions or individuals, are still involved in far too many things that work against Christ’s way, supporting systems of oppression, even sometimes promoting evil in the name of Christ. So do you want God to reform the Church again, to call the people of Christ back to the mind and heart of Christ for this world?
And then there’s this world. Our anxiety and fear are palpable as we get closer to this election, so many of our neighbors are struggling and afraid, and there seems no end in sight for these wars that are destroying so many lives. So, do you want God to just fix what’s wrong with this world, ending all our anxiety? To step up and end oppression and injustice? “What do you want me to do for you?”
But there’s more to this: Bartimaeus trusted Jesus could do what he asked.
Somehow, begging alongside the road near Jericho he’d heard of this teacher who healed. And when he realized Jesus was on his road, that this was his chance, he leapt at it. He trusted Jesus could heal him.
So regardless of what you want the Triune God to do for you, do you even trust God will or can do it?
Healing stories like these make it hard for us to answer that question. Because we see that physical healing like this seems to happen much more rarely than when Jesus was doing his ministry, we can prematurely restrict our hope for God’s healing to come in any ways. We know God can do miracles. But we often act like the crowd, only to ourselves, saying, “don’t bother to ask.”
So we act as if we’re on our own for the healing of our nation, our society, the bringing of justice and peace. We pray for God to act, but we tend to expect God won’t. And sadly, we can even doubt God’s ability and willingness to give us those interior gifts we need, courage, hope, strength.
This is our crisis of faith right now.
If Jesus was walking outside on the street right now, would we imitate Bartimaeus and ask for mercy? Or tell ourselves “don’t bother God with that,” as if we know what God would answer.
What if you let Bartimaeus help you, and those others who’ve called on Christ for mercy, asked for what they wanted, and received grace and life from God? Because what those who preceded us in the faith declare, and what some people you and I have known personally proclaim, is that God is fully able and willing to help you in your need, in your want.
That, in fact, if you tell God what it is you want God to do, God will most definitely answer.
Now, you’ll need to learn from these folks how to recognize God’s answer when you get it.
Look at Bartimaeus. Jesus knew he needed something more than eyesight. He needed Jesus in his life, to walk with him, to lead him, to love him. And as soon as he gets his physical sight back, he follows Jesus.
That’s God’s primary way to answer: calling you into a relationship of life and love that guides and shapes you. All the things you want and need inside – more courage, less fear, more faith and trust, hope, a new way of seeing the world – all those things God wants for you even more. They may come gradually, over time; God usually works that way.
And God wants this for you because if you are changed into a follower like Bartimaeus, someone who trusts and learns from God, you will become God’s agent in the world for the healing of all the other things. The big issues of changing the Church, our society, the world – all those will happen through regular people, the healed Bartimaeuses, the healed you and me, who work as God’s own in the world. Whatever happens in this election, we’ll still have a lot of work to do. Whatever happens with wars and oppression and systemic violence, all can start to change when those who follow Christ act as Christ and make a difference.
So, when we’re in a crisis of faith, Bartimaeus reminds you and me to stay on the road and watch for God; and then follow.
Trust God is working in you and in the world, and listen to those who testify to what God has done in them. Ponder what you want from God and ask it. Don’t let anyone – especially yourself – tell you not to bother God with your fears and concerns.
And then follow Christ, as Bartimaeus did, with all the others who follow. Then you’re never alone, not in crises of faith or moments of joy and clarity. And it is this crowd of witnesses, this motley group of followers along with you, who will be agents for God’s healing and hope in the world. God’s answer to all who ask for mercy.
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen