PostScript: Seen and heard
While in Jericho, Jesus meets Bartimeaus, who refuses to be silenced (Mark 10.46-52).
Context
The issue of ‘seeking’ or ‘searching’ dominates the news headlines this week.
Reflection
This is the final week of Black History Month (BHM) in the UK, which is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions that black people have made to this country. One of the reasons why we have BHM is that this input has often been overlooked by the mainstream media and historians. The story of the ‘Windrush Generation’ is a good case in point. For many years, only those who celebrated BHM were aware that these men and women had come to the UK to rebuild the country after the Second World War, and were now struggling with immigration-related issues. As a result, BHM aficionados were the first to raise their voices on behalf of the Windrush Generation – many of whom are now old and lacking the wherewithal to fight for their rights. After BHM last year, a concerted campaign has been seeking to ‘break the silence’ and make the authorities (and the country) aware of the Windrush Generations’ sterling efforts and current predicament.
In this week’s Gospel passage, we read about someone else who refused to be silenced: a man who wanted literally to see Jesus. Bartimeaus was a blind man who, on hearing that Jesus was leaving Jericho, began shouting to get the Lord’s attention. Those standing near him told him to shut up, but this only served to increase his ardour.
Much as in Jesus’ day, our society deliberately ignores or side-lines those who fall into particular categories. What’s more, their voices are often silenced by people who ought to know better. Those who sought to silence Bartimeaus were part of a crowd following Jesus. (It is interesting to compare this scenario with the disciples’ attempt to stop the children from being blessed by Jesus earlier in the chapter – see Mark 10.13-16.) One cannot escape the delicious irony that when Jesus notices Bartimeaus, he tells the very same naysayers to call him, thus telling them that he valued the blind man as much as them.
There is little doubt that Jesus knew what Bartimeaus’ need was, but he gave him an opportunity to be seen and to speak in front of a crowd that wanted him to remain out of sight and silent. Jesus, both literally and figuratively, took Bartimeaus from the margins and made him centre stage.
The question we need to ask ourselves is whether we are more like Jesus, or those in the crowd, when it comes to the marginalised in our society? Are we more inclined to speak up for those with no voice, or do we tacitly collude with systems and structures that force people to remain on the margins? Let us pray for the courage and wisdom to follow Jesus’ example.
Prayer
This prayer can be used at the end of a service.
Dear Lord,
We consider those who are marginalised in our society,
and ask that you to give us your heart for those who are ignored,
or whose voices are silenced.
Give us eyes that see and ears that hear, and the courage to stand up for justice,
so that all those made in your image are treated with dignity.
And may our words and actions draw these, your children, to you,
that they may come to know a God who has their names engraved on the palms of his hands,
and whose Son came that all ‘may have life and have it in abundance’.
This we ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Questions
- Who are the modern-day equivalents of Bartimeaus? How can we ensure they have a voice and do not remain ‘invisible’?
- From a religious perspective, we often praise persistence (cf. the parable of the ‘persistent widow’ in Luke 18.1-8) – but when does persistence cross the line and become a nuisance?
All-age activity
Devise a Black History Month quiz. It would be great to focus on the outstanding contributions of noted Black Britons rather than Americans. For instance, a good ‘starter for ten’ question would be: ‘Who was the first black bishop in the Church of England?’ Answer: Bishop Wilfred Wood, Bishop of Croydon, 1985-2003. For more information from which to formulate questions see the Black History Month website.
Young people
Find out more about the Windrush Generation – many of whom were/are Christians who played a significant role in revitalising the UK Church. It may be that you have someone in your congregation who arrived from the Caribbean during the 1950s or 60s, and is part of this generation. Ask them about their experiences – comparing life in the Caribbean with that of the UK. Most importantly, get them to talk about how their faith helped them come to terms with life in a new country, which at the time, was not always welcoming to immigrants.
Richard Reddie is a writer and cultural commentator. He attends St James Church (CofE) West Streatham, London.
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