Take heart!

Mark 10:46-52 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher,let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Context: Why do you read the bible? How do you read the bible? The answers to this question are probably as varied as the people who read the bible but most people will begin with some kind of desire for God ... this is the Holy Spirit calling one into a relationship. John Wesley, the "founder" of Methodism called this desire "prevenient" grace which simply means the grace that goes before one knows God in Christ. Bartimaeus may have been just such a man. Obviously we don't know any more about Bartimaeus knowledge of God than we do when we look around at the people who surround us. But we do see his fierce desire for God. He cries out, not for healing (sozo), but for mercy (eleeson me). We may wonder why Bartimaeus doesn't just ask Jesus to heal him but if we look back and remember that just as wealth was a sign of God's blessing (you've been good), disease such as blindness was thought to be a result of sin (you've been bad) this makes sense. Rather, Jesus asks a question he has asked once before ... Look at Mark 10:36 and notice the attitude of those what are seeking something from Jesus. As this man calls Jesus, Son of David, we should be amazed this ironic turn of events, that this "blind" man, Bartimaeus, saw what the disciples have failed to notice and will continue to ignore. His response is credited to him as pistis, which is translated as faith. As he throws aside his cloak he throws aside his old life to embrace the new life before he even has it!

Going Deeper: As we go deeper once again we will experience Lectio Divina yet in a slightly different way. One of the reason I love the prayerful reading of Scripture is that it moves me from my head into my heart. Our bible study should be an exercise that is both informational (just the facts - what does it say? what does it mean?) and formational (how is God speaking to my life circumstances and how must I change in light of my experience of God?) remembering that what emerges from our heart's longings is as important as our cognitive thoughts. Both are ways that the Spirit of God comes to us.

Before we begin reading ... journal with these questions ... if you aren't into journaling and don't think you can make yourself pick up pen and paper ... meditate with them. Yet realize that writing can often bring our deeper thoughts to the surface.

Why do you think a person should read the bible?
If you read the bible, how often and what is your purpose?
Have you grown closer to God from your reading?
Where does your joy in Scripture come from?
What concerns emerge for you as you read?
If you don't read the bible, why not?

Pondering: This style of Lectio has 6 movements:

• Silencio (silence): Take time to surrender your agenda to God ... Let go and sink into the presence of the God who loves you. Sit in the silence for at least 2-3 minutes ...
  
• Lectio (sacred reading): Read the passage aloud slowly. Then read it again ... What word or short phrase caught your attention as you read? Say the word or phrase aloud, savoring it on your tongue and in your heart.
  
• Meditatio (meditation): Read the passage again slowly and try to picture the scene in your mind's eye. Where are you? Are you looking from afar or are you a part of the action? Who do you see? What do you see? What do your other senses take in and add to your meditation. What things are said and who says them? What reason do they seem to have for saying what they do? Why did Jesus respond as he did to each?
  
• Oratio (praying): Now we take the time to tell God how we felt about what we have heard and seen. First, let yourself feel what you feel ... dwell on the aspect of the passage that evoked the most emotion within you. What emotions are you feeling? Can you describe your connection to that person and their situation? How do you feel about the way Jesus responded to Bartimaeus?
• Contemplatio (contemplation): Read the passage again ... but begin to simply "rest" in the words. As you rest with this passage where do sense God drawing you?
  
• Incarnatio (incarnation): Here we begin to acknowledge how God is calling us to change within our being or to move into doing ... or both ... Do you sense God's spirit guiding you into new depths of understanding or experience of God? Do you sense an invitation from God?

Many people put their trust in God but lack the confidence to trust in what they are hearing in their spirit. Yet when we come to Jesus with the simple faith that Bartimaeus had ... we can hear God's whisper!

Praying: Simply rest in your experience of God for as long as you are able. Let the silence envelop you and make you whole ...