This week we find Jesus passing through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem. While He is walking the streets, He hears a man shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The voice doesn’t actually say what he is looking for, only for Christ to help him. Even though Jesus’ disciples try and stifle the blind beggar, he is persistent when asking for help, not letting the crowd quiet him. Jesus askes that the man be brought to him and as we find out, the man is cured of his blindness, as Jesus says, “your faith has saved you”. He doesn’t say, “I have saved you.” It is the man’s faith that received that healing.

Now he too becomes a disciple and follows Jesus. Bartimaeus isn’t asked or told to follow Jesus like in other scripture stories. Jesus says “Go”. Is that the same as “come, follow Me”? Maybe Bartimaeus is so grateful for his sight that he wants to follow Christ. Or perhaps Bartimaeus’ faith has been restored or proven.

What about those that rebuke him. Why is that? Why don’t they want Jesus to help him? Protection of the Messiah, jealousy, embarrassment?

For me, this scripture compels me to think about trust and faith and confidence. There’s the one who needs help, the one with compassion and grace to help and the ones who are not willing to help. There are always those who will try and quiet us. But with persistence and confidence when we ask God for help, we can be sure our prayers will be heard and trust that God wants to help us. 

As I reflect on forty years of ordained priesthood, I am overwhelmed by the number of people whose lives I have had the honor of touching and how many of those good people have enriched my life in return. I am humbled and, at this particular time, overwhelmed by the generosity of love, care and concern that has been returned to me by so many over four decades in service to God and the church. Jesus states in the gospel today that by giving up some things in life and following Him we will receive, “a hundred times more now in this present age” and indeed this has been my experience.

I have had the honor of being a high school instructor for ten years, a hospital chaplain for thirteen years and your pastor for seventeen years. Each one of those ministries has fulfilled the words of Christ in today’s Gospel by virtue of the thousands of people who have shared their life and love with me in ways large and small. I am particularly grateful that I will hopefully serve the remainder of my years as Pastor of your parish. If those remaining years are anything like the forty years that have passed, I look forward to them with great joy and anticipation.

I thank all of you for your faith and trust in my being your Pastor and I only hope that I can continue to build our parish and serve its future.

Thank you and God bless….