Bartimaeus 2021

It’s clear that our world is presenting some tough challenges for us at the moment. There are so many I could name but here are just a few.

COVID-19 has not gone away, either for us or anywhere in the world. People are still suffering the consequences of it.  Many still live in poverty and hunger, reliant upon food banks for extra help, and we see that every week here. Many are still suffering from the consequences of war or violence.

On an individual or personal level, I would imagine that there are some of us who have been so weighed down by life’s pressures that we do what comes most naturally: to call upon God Himself for help. I remember uttering that most profound phrase on several occasions: “Please God, help me”.

We have a similar example in our reading from Mark’s Gospel this morning. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, is helplessly sitting on his blanket at the side of the road.  All he can do is simply listen to the world go by. But on hearing that Jesus is near, his hope is renewed. Bartimaeus gets to his feet and is led to Jesus, who asks  him directly:

“What do you want me to do for you?”

Bartimaeus replies:

“My Teacher, let me see again”.

Jesus says to him:

“Go, your faith has made you well”.

Here we come to a central point of my sermons: our faith, its importance to us and the need to live it out. Our faith can and does make a difference, particularly when our lives feel at a very low point. Perhaps we are struggling to make sense of life, or perhaps our efforts at making a positive difference never meet with success. It’s at those times when our faith can give us strength and sustain us when we are seemingly at our lowest ebb.

Listening for God and calling to Him for help. Acts of kindness towards others. Following Christ’s example and living it out day by day. There is nothing wrong with doing any of these things. Just as there was nothing wrong with Bartimaeus calling to Jesus for help when he realised Jesus was close by. Here, Jesus does not see Bartimaeus as a nuisance. Instead, He acknowledges it as an example of the strength of Bartimaeus’ faith, through which he has been made well.

Today, our world, with all its problems and struggles, may feel challenging at times, but let us be filled with confidence and determination to make a difference for the better. However, if we are finding things tough and need to call upon the Lord for help, we must not be afraid to do so. We must also never underestimate the importance of our faith. Instead, may we live out that faith in our day to day lives, both privately and publicly, dedicating ourselves to God’s service.

AMEN