As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:

 Our Saviour Jesus Christ
has abolished death,
and brought life and immortality
to light
through the gospel.

2 Timothy 1.10

O Come. Let Us Worship. 

Gathering

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Collect for Today 

Lord God our redeemer,
who heard the cry of your people
and sent your servant Moses
to lead them out of slavery,
free us from the tyranny of sin and death,
and by the leading of your Spirit
bring us to our promised land;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

Mark 10.46-52

May the words that I share with you today be words that are given to the Glory of God and in thanksgiving of God’s blessing in our lives.

"Do You See What I See? "

Imagine for a moment.

You are arriving in a new community. On the side of the road is a beggar; and as you pass by—or approaching him, he says and calls out to you to have mercy on him. 

As we read in the gospel, 

‘As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

(In that whole time, the people are sort of saying, “Don’t bother Jesus. Leave him alone. Don’t interact with him! He’s on his way to Jerusalem!)

(We don’t have all that information, but I’m sure that’s part of what was going on. And they said to him, “Don’t bother him. Don’t bother him!”)

But, Bartimaeus was even more emphatic

and he said, sternly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
            Mark 10. 46-48

 We do not have the whole story. At the same time, we have enough of the story to develop the scene for our own use.           

One of the basic questions in our Christian world, though, is about healing.

What does it mean to be healed? Do we think only about the physical healing of a disease? Or, or is there more?           

In the scriptures, if we read carefully, we will discover ‘the more’.

For the healing was not just about being released from ailment, a disability, or some other difficulty in life. What it especially meant was also a change—a ‘return to life’.

It’s sort of like that scene where it says in there that ‘he threw off his cloak!’ I think there is a metaphor around that. 

He threw off all that was inhibiting him and opened himself up to be—be healed, to find new life.           

One such example though was that often it was difficult for people who had a disability, or were sick or ill, to return back to their community, because often they were pushed out to the side in the community. 

It’s kind of like when we read the story of the lepers—and how even after they were healed, they weren’t necessarily welcomed; and of course, they were easily identified even after they were healed, by the colouration, the pigmentation of their skin.           

Imagine for a moment being dependent on begging for life—for food—for shelter—and then suddenly to have economic freedom! 

What might that look like? 

In my previous community, and here at St. John the Baptist, one of the real experiences of “healing” I have witnessed and been privileged to work with 12-Step groups.            

In all acts of healing, often the community is not ready for it. There are many questions centered around doubt. People do not expect healing to happen.           

People (in the general) are not like Bartimaeus, who obviously knew if he could just speak to Jesus, he would have healing! 

Communities are often reluctant to accept changes in lives of people.           

Why the concentration, then, in the Gospels with ‘blindness’?           

Last week, I spoke about all which is contained in the Chalice. What is the true meaning of drinking from the cup Jesus drank from?           

In the Gospel today the blind person sees what the rest of the community does not see. 

The blind person sees that part of Jesus which identifies him as even more than being able to see. Bartimaeus sees the real Jesus—the Jesus we are called to see.           

One of the other aspects of blindness, and people who are blind, is they see far more than we can see.            

I grew up with an uncle who was blind from the early onset of Type 2 Diabetes. 

As children, we would marvel at watching him wipe off the kitchen dining table, or scrub the kitchen floor, and how he never missed a square inch! The other thing was because of the diabetes, he lost one of his eyes, and he had a prothesis made for that eye.

And as young children, we used to watch him every night: he would put that prothesis in a cup of water. As children we would marvel because we knew he was blind also in his other eye—and how he could--he never missed popping that into the cup. We often wondered how he did it!            

There are other aspects of this Gospel to consider.           

We often see Jesus addressing those coming to him directly.; except in this instance, Jesus says to those travelling with him, to bring the blind man to him. In other words, one of the gifts that we have to give in ministry is “time”.  

Jesus always had time for the people in need. Jesus always had time for pastoral care.           

Searching further into this Gospel lesson, we discover there are three types of blindness. 

First, there is the blindness of Bartimaeus. 

Second, is a blindness we have witnessed around Jesus as he is travelling to Jerusalem. Today, we encounter him in Jerico. The disciples’ eyesight was great, yet they could not grasp the true meaning of Jesus for the world.  

So that 2^nd blindness is blindness from seeing and knowing who Jesus was, and the gift that Jesus had to give to the world—for them to see or understand Jesus must suffer death and be raised on the 3^rd day, was over whelming, totally unbelievable!            

Then the third: the blindness of the world to this day. This includes each one of us.           

Bartimaeus lacked sight. The disciples lacked knowledge.           

At the same time, we have both sight and knowledge, and we still fail to see! 

Often, we fail to see the precious gift of life itself!           

Life can be beautiful, if we care to see it. Life is a gift for us to live and share.           

Life, I believe, is wonderful! 

I am mindful of the number of people who I have the privilege of walking with them in the last days of their life. In each case, I am overwhelmed by their offer of thanksgiving for their life.            

It is at that moment that I have witnessed people doing what Bartimaeus does by throwing off his cloak.  Metaphorically, Bartimaeus is throwing off his old ways to enter a new life.

Bartimaeus has accepted the new Jesus—the Jesus who we now see identified in the true meaning of his life: Jesus, Son of David, King of the Jews, and Messiah, Holy One.            

Another aspect is the simple words that Jesus gives to Bartimaeus. Jesus simply says, “your faith has made you well.”           

The other aspect of this Gospel is Jesus simply says, “Go on your way.”

But Bartimaeus does not simply go away; he takes up with the crowd now collected around Jesus and follows Jesus on that fateful trip into Jerusalem. These are all the people Jesus challenged to take up their cross and follow him.           

At the same time, we should not leave it here.

We need to give some time to the encounter between God and Job, as we read at the beginning of the lessons today.           

Job’s greatest desire was to see God with his own eyes.           

How often have we heard the “Jobs” of the world: if I could only see Jesus and touch Jesus, then I know I would be healed for sure. I know I could “believe”.           

What is so powerful in the story of Job is, it was not seeing him; it was believing.           

Job only heard God answer from the whirlwind. It was enough, for it is in that moment Job says: “Now my eyes see you.”                        

The great story of Job reminds each of us: it is not about the physical. It is about the metaphysical. Job now sees himself, and God, anew. Job throws off the cloak of darkness and finds life and light.           

This is the gift that we all look for. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let Us Pray

Let us offer our prayers for the healing touch of Christ among all peoples, saying,
God of love,
hear our prayer.

For the Church:
We pray for Anna, our Bishop, Brian our Priest, and Trish our Deacon and all others in leadership in our parish that we may always be open to the immense generosity of God’s love and pass it on to others who are searching for healing and peace.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

For this Parish:
We pray that you will draw us into a deeper relationship with you and with one another. Help us to trust in challenging times, free us from fear, and lead us into reconciliation with the Indigenous people of this land and freedom from discrimination for all people.  
God of love,
hear our prayer.

For the gift of peace:
We pray that in all places of conflict, that you will help open new pathways to ending violence among nations, within our nation, in our communities and in our homes, so that there will be safety, freedom and justice for all. We pray for communities around the world who are threatened by the effects of climate change especially the tragic outcome of the recent rains in North Vancouver. 
God of love,
hear our prayer.

For places of inclusion and wholeness:
We pray for everyone in our community, and for all people who suffer from institutional prejudice and direct bigotry; that every human being will be respected and included. We pray for this country of Canada and for our neighbours in the USA during this time of political strife.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

For health and wellbeing:
Wwe pray for the healing of minds and hearts. That the healing touch of Jesus will restore us and give us new hope. We are thankful for all healthcare providers who dedicate so much to keeping us safe and healthy. 
God of love,
hear our prayer.

For those who are in need of prayers:
We pray for those we know who are in hospital or ill at home.
We continue to pray for:
Gail, Sue, Sheila and John and for others we may name out loud or silently in our hearts. 
God of love,
hear our prayer.

For those who have died in your peace:
That they may sing your praises without ceasing for all eternity. And we pray for those who mourn.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

Generous and life-giving God, whose Son became poor for our sake.
Hear our prayers, and let all who draw near to you, be healed and strengthened to serve you in the power of the Spirit that dwells among us, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

As our Saviour taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

The Blessing: 

The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and
love of God, and of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always.  Amen.

May we go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.  Alleluia!