Sep
22

(30th Sunday OT B) The Story of Bartimaeus

Jesus heals a blind manThe selection from Mark 10:46-52 was probably a healing story narrated from the point of view of the blind man who was healed and then rewritten in Mark as a story of faith. Thus we may have here an instance of a personal testimony of faith that was incorporated into Mark’s gospel.

Bartimaeus means “Son of Timaeus”. He was a beggar whom people brought to his place beside the road leading to Jerusalem. He would sit there day by day on his cloak and receive the alms of people. One particular day he heard that Jesus the wonder worker from Galilee was passing by. So he cried out to him, asking for mercy. He called him “Son of David”, for wasn’t he the Messiah?

“Son of David, have mercy on me.” It was a cry of faith. Bartimaeus had his sight restored that day. His story is a story of faith: the story of a Jew who was converted to Christ because of healing received. While the mother-in-law of Peter served Jesus and his companions after being healed of a fever, Bartimaeus with his eyes restored became a disciple of Jesus at the very moment when Jesus was about to walk into Jerusalem and onto the Cross of Good Friday.

Relevant Articles

Guide to the Reading

1. After making your sentence flow and outline of the story of Bartimaeus’s healing, ask yourself is this a healing miracle story? For the answer to this question, compare Bartimaeus’ story with the one in Mark 7:31-37 and in Mark 8:22-26. Remember that a healing miracle has the following elements (drawn from the story of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law):
(a) people draw Jesus’ attention to someone who needs healing
(b) Jesus’ gesture
(c) the effect of the gesture on the one being healed
(d) the reaction — either of the crowd or the one being healed

2. Below are some things in the text that need to be understood for a better understanding of the account:

2.1. Jericho. Jericho is one of the more famous cities mentioned in the Bible. It is mentioned in Joshua and connected to the Israelite “invasion” of the promised land. The Jericho of the New Testament is not found in the location of its more ancient predecessor. As happens normally in Palestine as attested by the archaeological history of its towns and places, destroyed cities are rebuilt elsewhere although retaining the original name. The NT Jericho was located towards the south of the original location and in the time of Jesus was a gateway to Jerusalem. Herod built a vacation palace there.

2.2. “Son of David”. A pre-marcan title for Jesus. Gnilka (Das evangelium nach Marcus) informs us that on the lips of Bartimaeus, the invocation was intended as a profession of faith. It is a Messianic title, associated to the covenant with David according to which his dynasty will last forever through a Son. The “original” Son of David — Solomon — was known for his wisdom, was authoritative in teaching and had power over demons. But he was not expected to heal the sick. This last fact makes the invocation of the title as something Christian, not Jewish. People try to stop the blind man from shouting the title. Perhaps it was due to the fear of creating a commotion that will be interpreted as a cry for rebellion? In the story of Mark, the people’s attempt to stop the blind man from calling upon Jesus is a challenge to his faith.

2.3. “The robe/cloak”. “He threw aside his cloak” (NAB). The cloak was for the Jew a piece of garment that served a lot of purpose: it was used as a blanket for sleeping outdoors, and it was worn as protection against the sun when travelling. for a blind man begging along the road, it would have served as the mantle on which he sat and where people would throw their alms. So here we have Bartimaeus sitting on his cloak with the days’ alms and when Jesus calls him, he throws aside the cloak as he springs up. Gnilka takes it as an indication of great excitement. Perhaps it may also be interpreted as a symbol of Bartimaeus leaving his former life as he approaches Jesus?

2.4. “And he followed Jesus”. The word for the sequela is used here “he walked behind Jesus”. Bartimaeus became a disciple after his healing. He walks behind Jesus as this one goes to his passion.

Comparing the Readings

The first reading from Jeremiah 31 is an oracle about the return of the exiles of the Northern tribes. The joy that characterizes this event is a joy that derives from the Lord’s saving act. Jeremiah anticipates this return on the occassion of the renewal of the covenant at the time of Josiah. The relationship with the Gospel comes from the mention of “the blind and the lame” who will be part of the throng of returnees. Their return will be characterized with the consolations that only the Lord can give. The responsorial psalm echoes the theme of the return but now applied to all of Israel.

The second reading from Hebrews is not related to the first and Gospel readings. But during this Year for Priests, it can serve as an alternative theme for the homily. The priesthood of Christ is the sacramentalized in the priesthood of the ordained. The character of the sacrament itself obliges the ordained to conform himself to Christ the Good Shepherd so as to effectively bring His presence to the Church, His flock.

Suggestions for the Lesson

The story of Bartimaeus is a story of faith. The elements that should make it a healing miracle — the gesture of Jesus, people presenting the sick — were taken out. The main lines of the story are: (a) the faith professed by Bartimaeus (b) the challenge to that faith which he overcomes (c) the pronouncement of Jesus, and (d) Bartimaeus following him on the way to this passion and death. In this sense, the illumination of Bartimaeus’ eyes can be symbolically interpreted as the illumination one receives in baptism. Bartimaeus already had faith in Jesus as the “Son of David” and it was a faith that was challenged but not overcome. In the end, he walks behind Jesus as a disciple.

The relationship of Bartimaeus’ story with that of the unnamed blind man in Mark 8:22-26 can be presented alongside this story. Both stories act as a frame around the Confession of Peter (Mark 8:27-38). Before Peter and the disciples can “see” Jesus for what He is, the Suffering Messiah, they must first have their eyes healed like the blind man of Bethsaida and Bartimaeus. Only with their eyes healed — such as done in the sacrament of ïllumination (baptism) — can they, like Bartimaeus, walk behind Jesus towards the cross.

Mark 10:46-52
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
46And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging.
47Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.
48And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me.
49And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee.
50Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him.
51And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see.
52And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way.
Hebrews 5:1-6
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
1For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3And therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was.
5So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
6As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.
Mark 10:46-52
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
46And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging.
47Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.
48And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me.
49And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee.
50Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him.
51And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see.
52And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way.
Mark 10:46-52
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
46And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho, with his disciples, and a very great multitude, Bartimeus the blind man, the son of Timeus, sat by the way side begging.
47Who when he had heard, that it was Jesus of Nazareth, began to cry out, and to say: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.
48And many rebuked him, that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: Son of David, have mercy on me.
49And Jesus, standing still, commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort: arise, he calleth thee.
50Who casting off his garment leaped up, and came to him.
51And Jesus answering, said to him: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? And the blind man said to him: Rabboni, that I may see.
52And Jesus saith to him: Go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed him in the way.
Mark 7:31-37
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
31And again going out of the coasts of Tyre, he came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32And they bring to him one deaf and dumb; and they besought him that he would lay his hand upon him.
33And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears, and spitting, he touched his tongue:
34And looking up to heaven, he groaned, and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened.
35And immediately his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke right.
36And he charged them that they should tell no man. But the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal did they publish it.
37And so much the more did they wonder, saying: He hath done all things well; he hath made both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Mark 8:22-26
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
22And they came to Bethsaida; and they bring to him a blind man, and they besought him that he would touch him.
23And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him out of the town; and spitting upon his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he saw any thing.
24And looking up, he said: I see men as it were trees, walking.
25After that again he laid his hands upon his eyes, and he began to see, and was restored, so that he saw all things clearly.
26And he sent him into his house, saying: Go into thy house, and if thou enter into the town, tell nobody.
Mark 8:22-26
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
22And they came to Bethsaida; and they bring to him a blind man, and they besought him that he would touch him.
23And taking the blind man by the hand, he led him out of the town; and spitting upon his eyes, laying his hands on him, he asked him if he saw any thing.
24And looking up, he said: I see men as it were trees, walking.
25After that again he laid his hands upon his eyes, and he began to see, and was restored, so that he saw all things clearly.
26And he sent him into his house, saying: Go into thy house, and if thou enter into the town, tell nobody.
Mark 8:27-38
View in: NAB NIV KJV NJB Vulg Greek
27And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. And in the way, he asked his disciples, saying to them: Whom do men say that I am?
28Who answered him, saying: John the Baptist; but some Elias, and others as one of the prophets.
29Then he saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Peter answering said to him: Thou art the Christ.
30And he strictly charged them that they should not tell any man of him.
31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the ancients and by the high priests, and the scribes, and be killed: and after three days rise again.
32And he spoke the word openly. And Peter taking him, began to rebuke him.
33Who turning about and seeing his disciples, threatened Peter, saying: Go behind me, Satan, because thou savorest not the things that are of God, but that are of men.
34And calling the multitude together with his disciples, he said to them: If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, shall save it.
36For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?
37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

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Posted by angfrayle Synoptic Gospels, The Sunday Lectionary Subscribe to RSS feed Email This Post Email This Post Print This Post Print This Post

2 Comments on (30th Sunday OT B) The Story of Bartimaeus

  1. (Sunday XXX OT B) Bartimaeus’ Story | Res Biblica says:
    October 10, 2012 at 11:59 am

    [...] Workshop: The Story of Bartimaeus [...]

    Reply
  2. Sunday, October 28, 2012: Resources for Sunday Mass (Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms) « The Divine Lamp says:
    October 23, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    [...] The Bible Workshop. Links to several relevant articles, contains a reading guide to the gospel text, a comparison of the readings, suggestions for a lesson (i.e., homily). [...]

    Reply

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