Thursday, April 3, 2014

What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

April 6, 2014 

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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