Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Can the blind lead the blind? If we go by today’s gospel reading, perhaps, the answer is yes. Was Bartimaeus blind? Sure, he was. Are we blind? It depends. Mark has a unique way of understanding blindness. His definition of blindness depends not on what people can see with their eyes but on their relationship with Jesus, the Christ.
Over the last few weeks, our gospel reading has been from the gospel of Mark. We began with Jesus asking his disciples the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Since that question and Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ,” three times Jesus predicted his suffering and death. But each time the disciples were preoccupied with other concerns. First, Peter rebuked Jesus and forbade him from accepting his destiny with the cross. Then the disciples argued, “Who is the greatest?” And finally, James and John tried to secure the right and left seats of Jesus domain in Heaven. Each time the disciples got sidelined, Jesus gave them a lesson on discipleship.
But the story of the blind man Bartimaeus that ends this section introduces a whole new dimension to Mark’s story. In fact, this section of Mark’s gospel is sandwiched between the two stories of the healing two blind men – one before Peter’s confession and one after Jesus third lesson in discipleship.
Two Blind Men
Here are the stories of the two blind men. The story of the blind man before Peter’s confession is simply titled “The Healing of the Blind Man from Bethsaida” (MK 8:22-26). Mark does not tell us his name. He was brought to Jesus by some people. For this healing, Jesus took the man by his hand outside the village, put spittle on his eyes, and laid hands on him. But he was only partially healed. He was able to see, but as he himself said, “people looked like trees” (MK 8:24). Jesus laid his hands on him a second time, and this time, he was able to see clearly. Except for Jesus telling him not to go into the village, we hear nothing else about him.
The second blind man’s story is vividly different. This man has a name. He was Bartimaeus, the roadside beggar. There was no one to bring him to him to Jesus. He heard that Jesus was passing by and he began to cry out, “Son of David, have pity on me” (Mk 10:48). Whereas the other blind man had someone to bring him to Jesus, Bartimaeus experienced the opposite. People were telling him to be silent. It did not stop him. He cried out even more. And then, the unthinkable happened. Jesus stopped. Everybody stopped. The world stopped. Jesus said, “Call him” (Mk 10:49). They called him. He threw aside his cloak and everything he had and came to Jesus. For this healing, Jesus did not take him aside. There was no spittle, no touching, no getting healed in stages. Jesus simply said to him “Go your way. Your faith has saved you” (Mk 10:520). In an instant he was healed. Mark’s one line commentary at the end is significant. Mark tells his readers that the man was healed, but more importantly adds: “He followed him on the way” (MK 10:52).
Two Blind Men Teach Us
On the one hand, the story of the two blind men are stories of healing. On the other hand, they are stories of the discipleship. The story of the first blind man describes the Twelve, who see Jesus but do not understand who he really is. Jesus had to rebuke Peter, who did not see Jesus clearly. Later too, the disciples argued about who was the greatest and who would sit and left and right hand of Jesus. They see the Messiah, but neither do they understand Jesus’ messiahship fully or their own discipleship clearly.
This is not the case with Bartimaeus. Mark gives him a name. Like the other blind man, he did not fade way into oblivion. Rather, when Jesus called him, even before he was healed of his blindness, he threw his cloak aside and came to Jesus. After his healing, Mark tells us that he followed Jesus “on the way”. This is Mark’s way of saying that the blind man became a disciple. Bartimaeus’ eyes have been opened. But he does not merely see with his eyes. He sees Jesus as, “Son of David,” the Messiah. He did not go back for this cloak. He left it all behind. His faith has saved him. Mark gives him a name because he now has an identity. He is a disciple. This is the kind of disciple Jesus wants the Twelve to be.
Are We Blind? It Depends
The first blind man from Bethsaida was not a bad man. He was a good man. After all, he experienced the healing power of Jesus. I am sure, he lived to tell that story. Remember the rich man about whom Mark told us a couple of weeks back? He too was a good man and he kept all the commandments. He was a good man who chose not to follow Jesus. But Mark’s story is not merely about good people.
Mark’s story is the story of Jesus. The story of Jesus is not a simple story. His is a story that leads him to the cross. He wrote the story of Jesus so that people might be saved. His disciples and those who follow him must, like Jesus, deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. Following Jesus means setting everything aside, whether it is a cloak, wealth, or ego. Following Jesus means not striving to be the greatest but the servant of all. Following Jesus means not striving to be first but the last. Following Jesus means following him “on the way.” Following Jesus means walking in the footsteps of Jesus. The first blind man Bethsaida want on his way. The rich man went on his way. But Bartimaeus is the hero who teaches us the true meaning of Christian discipleship.
I began this homily by asking the question, “Are we blind?” And I had said, “It depends.” Mark is saying the same to us today. “It depends!” It depends on our relationship with Jesus Christ and if we willing to set it all aside and follow him “on the way.”
- Fr. Satish Joseph