The 21st Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 25B), Oct. 29, 2006

BCP: Isaiah 59:(1-4)9-19; Psalm 13; Heb. 5:12-6:1,9-12; Mark 10:46-52

RCL: Job 42:1-6,10-17 and Psalm 34:1-8 (19-22) or Jer. 31:7-9 and Psalm 126; Heb. 7:23-28; Mark 10:46-52

The Old Testament lesson voices the plaints of a wayward nation, first describing its miserable condition — walking in gloom, stumbling, growling, and moaning. The speaker freely acknowledges that the nation’s condition is because of “multiplied transgressions,” “oppression and revolt,” and rejection of truth. The lesson ends with the direct intervention of God to requite their failures in fury.

The psalm is a plea from the victims of an oppressive enemy who beg God successfully for deliverance.

The lesson from Hebrews is an exhortation to Christian believers who are moving away from God. Their condition of backsliding is bluntly described — those who should have been teachers are in fact no better than children in the ways of God. They are admonished and encouraged to show earnestness in the way forward. It is noteworthy that, in spite of their disappointing sluggishness in Christ, they are nonetheless addressed as “beloved.”

In the case of those in the Old Testament, God is silent because the people have abandoned God for a sinful life, but in the epistle, the faithful are far from God, not because of deliberate sin but because they have avoided maturity in Christ. Iniquities are only one possibility for the silence of God. There are other reasons not connected with egregious sin.

Finally, in the gospel the theme is played out in the person of Bartimaeus, who is blind and begging by the roadside. He is as blind as those in the Old Testament lesson, as sidelined among the people of God as those addressed in Hebrews, but he shows how to respond to the warnings and exhortations in both lessons — he calls out his need. His prayer is a form of what is known as the “Jesus Prayer” — the summary of the entire gospel in one line: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The prayer presents the essence of what is required for salvation. Bartimaeus perseveres in his cry through the crowd’s opposition, and comes to Jesus quickly when he is called. He must acknowledge publicly and before Jesus what his heart’s desire is, knowing that his sight, once restored, will change his life forever. No longer will he be able to beg; no longer will his place be by the roadside.

Similarly, when the people described in Isaiah turn from their wickedness, they will live; and those addressed in Hebrews are enjoined to “leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.”

Look It Up

Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “Go your way.” According to the last line of the gospel, what did Bartimaeus identify as his “way”?

Think About It

If God is silent in whole or in part of your life, are there any “iniquities” that might be causing that silence?

Next Sunday

The Sunday After All Saints’ Day, Nov. 5, 2006

BCP: Ecclus. 44:1-10,13-14 or Ecclus. 2:(1-6),7-11; Psalm 149; Rev. 7:2-4,9-17 or Eph. 1 (11-14) 15-23; Matt. 5:1-12 or Luke 56:20-26(27-36)

RCL: Wisdom 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Rev. 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44