Hello friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks.
Welcome to this next episode in our Lectio Divina series,
The Questions Jesus Asked.
Again if you're just joining us in this particular episode and don't know what Lectio Divina is,
I invite you to head over to my Insight Timer channel,
Where you'll find an audio there explaining Lectio Divina and helping you understand the structure of it.
But in short,
After a little reflection,
I'm going to read the passage to you three times with some silence in between each,
And just invite you to sit and meditate and reflect,
Asking God to reveal to you a word or a phrase that you really need to focus on in this moment.
And in that time of reflection,
Think about what it means to you and how you might carry it forward into your day,
Week and life.
Now as we get started today,
There's a big difference between wanting something and being able to name what you want.
A lot of us move through life with longings,
But they're pretty vague.
We feel the weight often of needs that have gone unmet,
But we struggle to articulate them.
We're not sure how to speak them out.
And so we end up hoping for change and healing and clarity.
But when the moment comes to name what we truly desire,
We hesitate because we're just not sure.
In the Gospel of Mark,
Chapter 10,
Jesus encounters a man named Bartimaeus.
Bartimaeus sits beside the road.
He's blind,
He can't see.
And so he's very dependent on others and marginalized at the same time,
Which seems like a paradox,
But I'm sure you understand how that might work.
And as Jesus passes by,
Bartimaeus cries out.
And he doesn't do it with any caution at all.
He calls out again and again and refuses to be silenced,
Even when all the people around him try and keep him quiet.
He keeps calling out,
Jesus,
Son of David,
Have mercy on me.
Something within him recognizes the possibility here and refuses to go unnoticed.
And eventually Jesus stops,
As I suppose you would,
And all the crowd turns and moves their attention to this moment.
And then Jesus,
In verse 51,
Asks a question that might seem completely obvious.
What do you want me to do for you?
Sounds simple,
Right?
But it's not because the question requires some clarity,
Not some vague hope or longing,
But a specific need.
And sometimes we avoid naming what we really need.
Maybe we fear we're going to be disappointed.
Maybe we're afraid of being misunderstood.
Sometimes maybe we fear that what we ask might not be given.
And so instead of asking clearly,
We often beat around the bush and speak indirectly.
We hint or we minimize or we just settle for something else that's close enough.
But Jesus' question here invites honesty.
Now what's interesting about this is Jesus already knows our needs,
But because naming them shapes our openness to receive them,
The question really does shift everything.
And Bartimaeus responds without any hesitation.
He says,
My teacher,
Let me see again.
See that clear,
Direct,
Honest.
Now,
This isn't some way of explaining his past or justifying his request.
He just names it.
Names what it is he wants.
And maybe this is where the question meets us today.
Maybe not a big,
Massive thing like being made to see again,
But maybe just those quiet little needs that we have in everyday life.
I mean,
Ask yourself the question today.
What do you truly need?
Not what's acceptable or what's expected,
But what do you need from God,
From life?
From this moment now?
Maybe clarity,
Peace,
Healing,
Strength?
Understand that when we name our needs,
We're not being weak.
We're actually moving in an act of trust because when we ask clearly,
We believe that someone's actually listening.
And so today,
Jesus' question is offered to all of us.
What do you want me to do for you?
This is not a question to test you.
And it's not Jesus demanding that he has to do something for you,
But it's an invitation and quite deeply an invitation to honesty.
So as you listen to the passage being read to you today,
Allow yourself to enter the scene.
Imagine the roadside.
Hear the voices around you.
Notice the moment when Jesus stops and listen for a word or phrase that draws your attention.
That word or phrase that you'll spend your time reflecting on.
Notice where it takes you.
Notice where it shifts in you.
Notice what challenge or peace it might bring to your heart.
As we ask God to open our ears to hear,
Our minds to think,
And our hearts to receive the good seed of the Word of Scripture today.
And so let's begin.
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 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's calling you.
So throwing off his cloak,
He sprang up and came to Jesus.
And 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.
And immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark chapter 10,
Verses 46 to 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 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's calling you.
So throwing off his cloak,
He sprang up and came to Jesus.
And 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.
And immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark chapter 10,
Verses 46 to 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 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's calling you.
So throwing off his cloak,
He sprang up and came to Jesus.
And 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.
And immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Let us pray.
Jesus,
You pause when we call out.
You don't rush past us or ignore us.
You turn towards us and invite us to speak with honesty and courage.
Give us the grace today to name our true needs.
Where we hesitate,
Bring boldness.
Where we fear disappointment,
Bring trust.
Where we have hidden our longings,
Bring clarity.
Teach us that asking isn't weakness,
But an act of faith.
And as your question today lingers with us,
Help us to speak plainly from the depths of our hearts.
Hear our prayers,
Spoken and unspoken.
And lead us gently toward wholeness.
Amen.
And may grace,
Peace and love go with you and remain with you today and every day.
Amen.
Until next time,
Peace be with you.
