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The Readings

Hebrews 7.23-end

Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.

Mark 10.46-end

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.

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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989

Scripture Quotations are from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Bartimaeus is blind.

We don’t know whether he was born blind or became blind. But he cannot see. He cannot see Jesus as he sits by the roadside just outside the little town of Jericho.

I remember Jericho from visits I used to make to the Holy Land at one time in my life. Starting from Jerusalem, high up in the hills, we would take our way east, dropping down and down on that road through the wilderness that Jesus speaks about in his parable of the Good Samaritan.

At last we would come to the small settlement of Jericho, just before the river Jordan. It’s an oasis town, full of palm trees; very hot, very dry, very dusty. 846 feet below sea level. The lowest town in the world, not in Israel but in what’s called the West Bank.

Being blind, Bartimaeus cannot work. What a contrast with being without sight in this country today. There is no help for Bartimaeus. No charity for the blind. No guide dogs. No welfare state. I think of a friend of mine, blind from birth, born on Parson Cross, who with great determination got himself to university, became an MP, then Home Secretary, and now sits in the House of Lords. What more could he possibly have achieved had he been sighted?

But for Bartimaeus, it’s a different story. He scratches a living from begging. As he sits, his begging bowl beside him, there’s a commotion. And he hears that Jesus and his disciples are leaving town.

So he calls out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’

The words are very familiar to us today because at certain times during the year, we incorporate them into this service. Lord, have mercy upon us. Kyrie eleison. Whenever we sing or say that we are echoing Bartimaeus’s cry for help. Have mercy. This is where the words come from. Something that Bartimaeus goes on calling out, even through people around try to shut him up.

And Jesus, we are told, stopped. Jesus stopped. And he tells those around to call the blind man. Which they do. Bartimaeus springs up, and stands before Jesus. And when Jesus asks him what he can do for him, Bartimaeus says, ‘Master, let me receive my sight.’ And he does receive his sight.

But it’s what Jesus says next that is so intriguing, and important. Jesus says, ‘Your faith has made you well.’ Not, ‘I have healed you’. Not, ‘God has healed you’. But, ‘Your faith has made you well.’

There’s something about this man’s faith and something about well-being and not just about being cured of a disability that we need to grasp.

Bartimaeus’s faith comes before his healing. Despite his circumstances, he does not doubt that God is with him and his life counts for something. This is what enables him to be undeterred by those around him and to reach out to Jesus – ‘Son of David, have mercy on me.’

This attitude, this refusal to be silenced, this determination, this courage, this faith, Jesus commends. It’s as important as any physical healing.

This approach to life and living is captured in one of the hymns we are singing today: Father, hear the prayer we offer. The sort of faith that Jesus commends is found there.

Father, hear the prayer we offer:
not for ease that prayer shall be,
but for strength that we may ever
live our lives courageously.

What Jesus understands is that our human lives are lived out in a world where good and bad co-exist all the time. This is the price we pay for having freedom and choice. There would be no freedom and no choice if all we could ever do was choose the good. There would be no freedom or choice if nothing bad ever happened to us.

So we live our lives in a world where change and chance, good luck and misfortune, come our way. What makes the difference is how we deal with them. Our faith.

Bartimaeus will not let his misfortune overcome him, which is why he has the strength to cry out to Jesus. And that’s the real well-being here. It’s not just about having his sight restored. Because Jesus knows well that all physical miracles are only ever temporary. Sight is restored, but it can be lost again. The sick are healed, but they can become sick again. Even Lazarus, who is restored to life, will one day die. The real well-being that Bartimaeus has is his faith. That does not depend on the way things go in life. It can take him through good times and bad.

So let the last verse of the hymn be our prayer as it most surely was Bartimaeus’s:

Be our strength in hours of weakness,
in our wanderings be our guide;
through endeavour, failure, danger,
Father, be thou at our side.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica.

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.

We give you thanks for all your blessings to your people. We ask you to help us to ensure that all
people most in need may share in the wealth you have given us. We pray for all who are finding life
difficult at present, for whatever reason.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church worldwide, for all its leaders, that they may work together to do your will for
all your people. We pray for the Church of England, for our Archbishop Justin, and our bishops Pete
and Sophie. We thank you for all the Christian organisations that work to bring help to the needy
and suffering. We give you thanks for our partnership with St Mark’s and St John’s, and for all who
take our services here at St Mary’s.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our suburb of Walkley and our City of Sheffield. May this city always be a place of
friendliness and welcome to all who arrive here whether to work or study.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are ill at this time, or in special need of your comfort. Support all who work as
doctors or nurses in their often difficult work. We pray also for all caring for a loved one. In a
moment of quiet we remember before you all those known to us in special need of your grace………
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember before you all those who died many years ago, or who have died recently. We ask for
your comfort to all who still mourn their loss………….
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of Mary, Mark, John and all your saints we commit ourselves andyou’re
your creation to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Amen.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2000 The Archbishops' Council