Father Koch: Bartimaeus sees what everyone else has missed
October 25, 2024 at 5:30 a.m.
Gospel reflection for Oct. 27, 2024, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are at that point in the ministry of Jesus when he has been in Jericho which stands as the last stop on the journey up to Jerusalem. Jesus has been preparing himself and his disciples for this journey as he has told them on three specific occasions that the Son of Man was going to Jerusalem to be arrested and executed.
It is Passover season, so the spring of the year, and the tensions in and around Jerusalem are always a bit heightened as the pilgrims from around the Empire make their way to the city,
This makes Jericho a tense place to be as well. Anyone who would be headed to Jerusalem to cause disruption could gather in the city, so one never really knew the full intentions of those who were gathered there.
It is on his way out of the city that Jesus encountered one of the more intriguing figures in the Gospels, Bartimaeus, a blind man, was an outcast in Jewish society, and likely a well-known beggar within the city. His life serves, as do many of the other figures from the Gospels, as a sort of living parable. Although blind, he recognized Jesus for who he is, unlike other followers who were unable to perceive what was going on. Bartimaeus recognized in Jesus the Son of David; the fulfillment of the messianic promises.
We do not know what Bartimaeus could have known of Jesus before this encounter. He must certainly have heard the accounts of what was going on and, likely due to his being largely ignored by others, overheard conversations about Jesus. Clearly a man of some intelligence and insight, Bartimaeus was able to discern what others were likely whispering.
His inability to see left Bartimaeus in a situation that he did not perceive the fear and expressions of the crowd around him. In a way he was innocent and very authentic in his calling out to Jesus.
The crowd was fearful as Bartimaeus called out “Son of David,” as this title carried a political and revolutionary undertone. Bartimaeus risked not only his own welfare but the life of Jesus and his disciples. The crowd sought to keep Bartimaeus silent not for his sake but for theirs. There is a sense of fear that is at the core of the desire to silence Bartimaeus as he called out to Jesus.
A person in Bartimaeus’ situation experiences life on a different level. On one hand he was an oppressed minority. There were no accommodations for an other-abled person in the ancient world. He also carried the stigma of the sin that blindness inferred within the Jewish world. Thus, living on the fringe, Bartimaeus would be perhaps less perceptive of the fears and desires of the rest of the crowd. His fears were unique to his situation; the fears of the crowd had other meanings.
Bartimaeus in a way tunes out the crowd of people that had effectively tuned him out over the years. He had the desire to be cured of his blindness and to be restored to a full participation in the life of the community.
Jesus heard his calls and asked that Bartimeaus be brought to him. This is a subtle yet significant moment for Jesus as in responding to Bartimaeus Jesus gives the silent nod of affirmation that he was the Son of David and was on the messianic mission.
This moment could not have been lost on the crowd.
We do not know how long Jesus was in Jericho or what he might have done there. He likely spoke to those who were gathered there and may even have performed another healing miracle as well. What is certain is that Jesus had drawn attention while there and people were wondering who he was – really was – and also what he might have been planning for his time in Jerusalem.
Bartimaeus, a man who most certainly became a figure of some repute among the community after Pentecost, speaks aloud what some suspected, and in a sense forced the hand of Jesus to reveal himself so that all could see what this blind man saw in his blindness.
Bartimaeus stands for us as the example of what it means to truly see – to see with the eyes of faith and to recognize the presence of God in our midst. Would that more people would be blind so that they might see more clearly.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
Related Stories
Friday, October 25, 2024
E-Editions
Events
Gospel reflection for Oct. 27, 2024, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are at that point in the ministry of Jesus when he has been in Jericho which stands as the last stop on the journey up to Jerusalem. Jesus has been preparing himself and his disciples for this journey as he has told them on three specific occasions that the Son of Man was going to Jerusalem to be arrested and executed.
It is Passover season, so the spring of the year, and the tensions in and around Jerusalem are always a bit heightened as the pilgrims from around the Empire make their way to the city,
This makes Jericho a tense place to be as well. Anyone who would be headed to Jerusalem to cause disruption could gather in the city, so one never really knew the full intentions of those who were gathered there.
It is on his way out of the city that Jesus encountered one of the more intriguing figures in the Gospels, Bartimaeus, a blind man, was an outcast in Jewish society, and likely a well-known beggar within the city. His life serves, as do many of the other figures from the Gospels, as a sort of living parable. Although blind, he recognized Jesus for who he is, unlike other followers who were unable to perceive what was going on. Bartimaeus recognized in Jesus the Son of David; the fulfillment of the messianic promises.
We do not know what Bartimaeus could have known of Jesus before this encounter. He must certainly have heard the accounts of what was going on and, likely due to his being largely ignored by others, overheard conversations about Jesus. Clearly a man of some intelligence and insight, Bartimaeus was able to discern what others were likely whispering.
His inability to see left Bartimaeus in a situation that he did not perceive the fear and expressions of the crowd around him. In a way he was innocent and very authentic in his calling out to Jesus.
The crowd was fearful as Bartimaeus called out “Son of David,” as this title carried a political and revolutionary undertone. Bartimaeus risked not only his own welfare but the life of Jesus and his disciples. The crowd sought to keep Bartimaeus silent not for his sake but for theirs. There is a sense of fear that is at the core of the desire to silence Bartimaeus as he called out to Jesus.
A person in Bartimaeus’ situation experiences life on a different level. On one hand he was an oppressed minority. There were no accommodations for an other-abled person in the ancient world. He also carried the stigma of the sin that blindness inferred within the Jewish world. Thus, living on the fringe, Bartimaeus would be perhaps less perceptive of the fears and desires of the rest of the crowd. His fears were unique to his situation; the fears of the crowd had other meanings.
Bartimaeus in a way tunes out the crowd of people that had effectively tuned him out over the years. He had the desire to be cured of his blindness and to be restored to a full participation in the life of the community.
Jesus heard his calls and asked that Bartimeaus be brought to him. This is a subtle yet significant moment for Jesus as in responding to Bartimaeus Jesus gives the silent nod of affirmation that he was the Son of David and was on the messianic mission.
This moment could not have been lost on the crowd.
We do not know how long Jesus was in Jericho or what he might have done there. He likely spoke to those who were gathered there and may even have performed another healing miracle as well. What is certain is that Jesus had drawn attention while there and people were wondering who he was – really was – and also what he might have been planning for his time in Jerusalem.
Bartimaeus, a man who most certainly became a figure of some repute among the community after Pentecost, speaks aloud what some suspected, and in a sense forced the hand of Jesus to reveal himself so that all could see what this blind man saw in his blindness.
Bartimaeus stands for us as the example of what it means to truly see – to see with the eyes of faith and to recognize the presence of God in our midst. Would that more people would be blind so that they might see more clearly.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.