News

The Safety of Darkness

Leprosy and blindness and deafness — oh, my. The disabilities cured by Jesus in his public ministry really are quite something, aren’t they? Vividly symbolic and rich food for reflection. It just wouldn’t be the same if Jesus had cured eczema or athlete’s foot or compulsive nail-biting.

Blind Bartimaeus, sitting by the side of the road, in particular captures my imagination. Because I have a confession to make, sometimes, I like to sit in the darkness, even though I know it isn’t very good for me.

Well, listen: it’s just easier, isn’t it? You don’t have to care about or fix the problems you can’t see. No one expects you to rush to someone’s aid if you don’t see their injuries. The darkness is a good place to be, if you don’t feel very brave or very smart or very able.

And when Jesus passes you by, if your whole world is darkness, it’s easy enough to pretend you just didn’t notice him at all.

But Bartimaeus chose not to stay in his darkness. More than that, he cried out to be released from it, even when everyone around him told him to shut up. He was so persistent that he caught the notice of Jesus, and when he heard those words — “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you!” — what did he do? He didn’t stammer and run away. He had courage. He got up.

It takes courage to ask for what you need to follow Christ. Because if you ask for it, you’ll get it. And then begins the terrifying, wonderful journey of discipleship — testifying to what you have seen. Life in the light, no longer sitting by the side of the road but on the road, journeying toward the greatest destination of all.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks us.

Do we have the courage to answer him?

Reflection contributed by: Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman

©LPi

Readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lectionary 149