Living in the Spirit
October 17, 2021
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:46-52
They came to Jericho. 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!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 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.
Mark reports a straightforward request for healing that was granted. Other gospels in telling this story delve into the politics of the day. I was refreshed reading this version, having grown weary of media reports on issues that matter to me where the press only talks about the politics and not the contents of a bill or the problems being addressed. The media no longer seems to care about “we the people.” It is more concerned about we the political party or we the powermongers. The media cares about what gets them better ratings which translates into better profits. Jesus cared about the people.
How do we, as followers of Christ, turn that around? Getting caught up in greed and power brokering historically always ends badly, not only for commoners but especially for the wealthy and the powerful. God did not create a world that can sustain being constantly pulled out of balance, regarding the earth itself or its people. Instead, God created a masterpiece where all people are indeed created equal. Where we all must make our contributions to making the world work for everyone in it. We were all created with gifts that must be realized and supported by all for all.
Benjamin Franklin said it this way: We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
Jesus put it this way: Love God and love your neighbors as you love yourself.
Our country was founded on that premise. The question is, do we have the will to make it work?
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we care more about worldly wealth and power than we do about one another. Turn us around to see and do your better way. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.