ISAIAH 59:1-4,9-19

PSALM 13

HEBREWS 5:12-6:1,9-12

MARK 10:46-52

Sermon – October 29, 2006

An Attitude of Gratitude

Bartimaeus was a blind beggar. There weren’t any other options for blind people in the First Century who weren’t independently wealthy: beg or starve. But he was doing alright, in fact he had a primo location – by the side of the only road from Jericho to Jerusalem – and this was by far the best time of the year to be a beggar: just before Passover, when pilgrims were going up to Jerusalem on pilgrimage for the holy feast.

It is traditional to come to Jerusalem prepared to give alms to the poor as a devotional act at any time of the year – Rabbi Warmflash of Congregation B’nai Tikvah even gave me a gift with instructions that I give it to a beggar when I was preparing to go to Jerusalem in August 1994. And to give alms on the way to Jerusalem for Passover – that was very special.

So, for a blind beggar, Bartimaeus was having a good week.

In fact, for a blind beggar, being set up just outside Jericho on the side of the only road to Jerusalem the week before Passover was like being the sole owner of a toy store on Thanksgiving weekend today. This was when he made his money that would enable him to buy food during leaner times.

So there he was, picture him, sitting or kneeling by the side of the road, with his cloak covered with coins pilgrims had dropped on it, enjoying his most lucrative week of the year.

Until he thought something better was possible.

He heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming, and he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Naturally, the crowds of devout charitable pilgrims came to him and said “Shut up.” But “he cried out even more loudly.” Good for him.

And naturally, Jesus said, “Call him here.” So then the pilgrims turned around and encouraged him.

Did he wait for Jesus to come to him?

Did he gather up his money collection, tuck it away safely and then gingerly get up?

No. He threw off his cloak and “he sprang up and came to Jesus.”

Imagine the scramble to go after all the coins which had lain on his cloak! Imagine them rolling around by the roadside, chased by those who were more interested in the coins than with what would happen next.

Imagine the faith of Bartimaeus. Before he had even met Jesus, he was sure that he would never have to beg again, that he would be healed, and therefore he threw off his cloak and all he had collected and gave it away.

How different from the man we met two weeks ago earlier in this same chapter of Mark who had this deep discussion with Jesus, and then turned away from him because Jesus asked him to give away his possessions. He had too much, he decided, to give anything away.

Bartimaeus’ faith was such that he gave away everything, beggar though he was.

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘what do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go, your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.”

And Jesus’ next stop was Jerusalem where a week later he would be betrayed, arrested, tortured and crucified. It was just before all that that Bartimaeus signed up to follow Jesus.

Bartimaeus had an attitude of gratitude. When people have that, they don’t disappear when the going gets tough. They just get stronger and more committed. His discipleship, which started out with risky, extravagant generosity, continued.

Which, I think, it why we know Bartimaeus’ name, whereas we don’t know the name of the rich dude who “blew Jesus off.” Many scholars think that the people for whom St. Mark wrote his Gospel knew Bartimaeus personally. Can you imagine going to church with Bartimaeus? (Sing) “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.”

Now here is the hard question for us, today: Who do we want to be more like, Bartimaeus, or the rich dude who blew off Jesus because Jesus invited him to be generous as well as good?

There are lots of temptations not to be generous today, as in every century. Fear. Insecurity. A sense of entitlement. Self-indulgence. Lack of vision. Social pressure to spend. A different understanding about what “success” means. Lack of faith. A love deficit. Waiting for there to be “left-overs” before sharing anything. Lack of commitment. Lack of community. Perhaps thinking that the best things in life can only be bought.

Imagine a church full of people like the rich dude who blew off Jesus. Would you want to be a part of such a group?

Imagine a church full of people like Bartimaeus, people with faith, hope and an attitude of gratitude.?

Stepping out in faith the way he did is awesome, almost scary. I feel humbled by his story. I wonder if I could possibly have had the guts to take the risk that Bartimaeus took.

But maybe he would say to me at coffee hour that he didn’t see it as a risk, that he just knew Jesus would change his life. And maybe Bartimaeus would say, “Take a smaller risk if my action seems scary. Take the risk of generosity, and at the same time ask Jesus to change your life.”

This church would not exist if people had not been willing to take risks in faith, with love: risks of inclusiveness, risks of commitment, risks of generosity of time, of talent and of money.

And what has God given us in response to our little risk-taking?

We got a sample yesterday of the kind of community we are, by the grace of God, when we gave thanks for the life and witness of our beloved Barbara Sanfilippo with a service of worship and with hospitality provided by dozens of people who were marinated with kindness, expertise, efficiency and love. It was an extraordinary day in which the Holy Spirit filled us in the midst of our pain and enabled us to minister to the 520 people who were here and offer an experience of Christian community which everyone needed – and which some people may never have experienced before.

“The purpose of St. Barnabas Episcopal church is to bring people together in Jesus Christ, to know him personally, and to strengthen the love of God and of all people.” That’s what it says in our By-laws. And here, “purpose statements” don’t just get written and forgotten, they get lived.

Our life as a Christian community is possible because of commitments we make. For us to be the best as we can be, to be the “us” God is calling us to be, requires our commitment. There’s nobody else to be us except us.

This is the season we ask for commitments for the upcoming calendar year: commitments of time in a culture in which time is very precious, commitments of talents in a culture in which talented people have many possible outlets for their talents, commitments of money in a culture which too often worships money just the way the rich man who walked away from Jesus did.

We can be like Bartimaeus. We can have an attitude of gratitude, even if we may not yet have received what we hope for! Pre-emptive generosity you might call it. And generosity which helps dreams come true.

On the table in the Welcoming Area are “Time & Talent” sheets, together with descriptions of ministries. If you’ve brought in a sheet, drop it off in the box. If you need one, pick one up, and fill it out now or take it and bring it back.

In the mail this week we will all receive information about making financial pledges to the church for 2007. Yes, commitments, spiritual commitments for the sake of the spiritual growth of each person willing to take a step in faith to help the whole community and the lives of all those we touch and those whose lives we might be able to touch with more commitments.

Honestly, compared to what Bartimaeus did, pledging is not the least bit risky and takes only a mustard seed of faith. Even tithing pales compared to Bartimaeus’ generosity. Let each person do what she or he can, and willing to commit to, and do it with an attitude of gratitude. Imagine what we can do together then.

(The Rev.) Francis A. Hubbard

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Monmouth Junction, NJ