Today’s scripture (Mark 10:46-52) takes place in the city of
Jericho. I imagine Jericho as being
somewhat similar to our area here as Jericho is described in the Old Testament
as the “City of Palm Trees.” Jericho is
a lush oasis like area where there is an abundance of water in a hot and dry
land.
In the Old Testament Jericho is known from the story of “Joshua
and the Battle of Jericho which secured the Israelite’s entrance into the
Promised Land. In the New Testament we
know Jericho as the place where Zacchaeus lived and was changed by Jesus. Finally we know of the road from Jericho up
to Jerusalem as being a rocky, bandit infested way in which the parable of the
Good Samaritan is set.
In today’s Scripture Jesus and the disciples are on a journey to Jerusalem
in the last days of Jesus life. He is
leaving Jericho followed by crowds when a blind beggar, Bartimaeus, calls out
to him for mercy.
The crowd tells him, “Hush!” but Jesus asks him a question: “What do you want me to do for you?”
If Jesus
asked you, “What do you want me to do for you…?” How would you answer? Would you have a long “laundry list” of
requests for yourself… almost like a list for Santa Claus? Would you, like Bartimaeus, pray for healing
and health? Would your prayers go out
for a loved one? For the disadvantaged
for of the world?
If Jesus asked you, “What do you want me to do for you…?” How
would you answer?
This is a good question to reflect upon as we go through this time
leading to Easter. We will have ample
opportunity to reflect and pray… not only on Sundays… but as we gather for
perhaps the holiest of nights on Thursday April 17 at 7 p.m. to observe a “Service of Darkness” with some of the
most moving music of the year and again on Saturday April 19 at 6 p.m. for an Easter Vigil where we literally travel
from communion, through the garden, to the fire where Peter betrayed Jesus and
end at the foot of the Cross. Consider
making time for these events and personal time to reflect…
What do you
want me to do for you? … Listen for
God’s answer… and
Then be sure to be present on Easter as we proclaim “What
marvelous things God hath done!”
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