The story of blind Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel is full of the rich and vivid detail characteristic of an eyewitness account. In New Testament times, the road from Jericho to Jerusalem was often traveled by those going up to worship in the Holy City. Just as today in Europe one often encounters beggars outside the entrances to great cathedrals and shrines, so in those days the road from Jericho to Jerusalem would have been a prime location for a beggar such as Bartimaeus to seek the kindness of religious people on pilgrimage.
The early Church fathers no doubt read the story literally, and understood Bartimaeus to be an actual person whom Jesus had really and truly restored to sight on the way from Jericho to Jerusalem. But they also understood him as a symbolic figure representing all who come to Christ seeking salvation.
According to ancient Christian commentaries on this Gospel, the figure of blind Bartimaeus sitting by the roadside represents the wretchedness of fallen humanity. He has learned about Jesus by the stories people have told, just as today people learn about Jesus by the preaching of the Gospel. So, when Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is passing by and calls out, “Son of David, have mercy on me,” he represents all who call upon the name of the Lord.
That Jesus doesn’t go to Bartimaeus himself but rather tells the crowd to call him signifies that we come to Christ only with the help and support of those who are already his followers. Jesus first questions Bartimaeus, and then gives him his sight. The early Church fathers understood this miracle as pointing to baptism, which was preceded by a questioning of the candidate, and which was widely known in the early Church as “enlightenment.” Finally, his sight restored, Bartimaeus follows Jesus on the way – and the New Testament Church used the term “the Way” to refer to the Christian life itself.
In the context of this figurative interpretation, one detail of the story merits particular attention -- the question that Jesus puts to Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?” For it’s a question of enormous importance.
In my own exercise of the priestly ministry, I’ve discovered just how important this question can be. For example, someone comes into my office, sits down, and starts telling me about some complicated and stressful situation in their life. As I sit there listening and trying to take it all in, sometimes I realize that I’m not sure what, if anything, I’m being asked for. Does this person want spiritual direction, concrete assistance, or just a sympathetic ear? Sometimes I find myself biting my tongue because although I think I can see the immediate and obvious solution to this person’s problems; I’ve discovered through bitter experience that it’s generally best to wait until I’m asked before I volunteer my opinion, my ideas, or my help. Sometimes, indeed, it’s prudent to ask explicitly: “How can I be of assistance to you?” “Are you asking my advice?” “Do you want my opinion?” Or as Jesus says to Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Therein lies a profound theological point. Jesus stands ready to help anyone in need, but we must first know our need and want to be helped. No doubt Jesus already knows that Bartimaeus is blind and needs his sight restored. Nevertheless, before Jesus can help him, Bartimaeus must make clear what he’s asking for; after all, he may want just a handout rather than a whole new life.
In Mark’s Gospel this episode comes immediately after the story we heard last week, which begins with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying to Jesus, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask of you.” In response, Jesus asks James and John exactly the same question he asks Bartimaeus in today’s Gospel; in both the English translation and the original Greek, the wording is identical: “What do you want me to do for you?” James and John answer, “Grant us to sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your glory.”
So to James and John, on one hand, and to Bartimaeus, on the other, Jesus puts exactly the same question, but what different answers! In their ambition and jockeying for position, James and John show themselves to be spiritually blind. There’s still so much that they don’t understand. By contrast, Bartimaeus in his physical blindness has the advantage of knowing his own wretchedness, his own need, and his own utter helplessness to help himself. And so he begs Jesus, “Master, let me receive my sight.” Jesus is pleased with the faith implicit in this answer, and so he gives Bartimaeus his sight and makes him his disciple.
This question that Jesus puts to James and John, as well as to Bartimaeus, is a question that he puts to each one of us. It forces us to sort through our priorities and come to terms with our deepest desires. “What do you want me to do for you?” If Jesus stood among us right now, and asked each of us that question, how would we answer?
It’s a good meditative exercise. Imagine Jesus asking us that question. How will we respond? Will our requests be more like that of Bartimaeus, or that of James and John? However we respond, whatever we ask of Jesus, we need to let our requests come from deep within our hearts. Then, once we’ve told our Lord whatever we want him to do for us, we need to stop, be quiet, and take a moment to listen to whatever he has to say to us. In that way, a conversation can get started. Who knows where it may lead? We may receive some gift that our Lord has been waiting to give us. We may even find ourselves brought to a new level of commitment to following him on the way.
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