Sermon: "Help and Hope, in Christ Jesus"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

It is interesting how dramatically perspectives on life itself can change as a result of one particular event. About a week ago, Annie and I made known my intention to retire in a year and a half. And just about everything that has happened since then seems to have been affected by that decision and by that announcement.

For instance, we held the annual diocesan Discernment Retreat this week. People gathered who are considering ordained ministry as a vocation. And, they met with the Commission on Ministry and with me, during this time of discernment. As I met and spoke with those folks, though, for the first time I realized that these people will be ordained by someone else - a different bishop.

Also, as I approached the bishop's chair here at St. John's this morning, I remembered the time I was seated in it nearly eleven years ago, as a visible sign of the transfer of Episcopal authority from Bishop Tharp to myself. That act and that location in the cathedral parish are quite significant for Episcopalians throughout the Diocese of East Tennessee, as well as for the bishop. But, I had not remembered the liturgical action from eleven years ago quite so vividly in recent years as I did today.

Thus, following my announcement, the world looks different to me - the big picture and the daily activities. However, it takes a while for the process of finding, electing, and installing a new bishop to work itself out. In fact, I will continue to serve as bishop for the next year and a half or so. Thus, a challenge for me will be to focus on the present and to continue to live into the opportunities and the responsibilities at hand.

It seems to me that one way to stay focused is to remember the basics. Our Gospel reading today points us to a basic structure of Christian ministry and, indeed, of Christian life. That is, as we follow Jesus Christ as Lord, we offer help to others, and we provide reasons for hope in their lives. We offer help, and we provide reasons for hope. No matter what our situation in life may be - and what distractions we may need to endure - if we focus on offering help and providing hope, we will not stray too far from the way of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel passage today, we notice especially the individual named Bartimaeus. You remember that he was the blind beggar who sat by the roadside in Jesus' day. He could not see who or what went by, for he was blind. He depended on others for information. He was out of place, out of touch, being quite literally passed by, on the side of the road. He needed help, and he had very little hope.

This image of Bartimaeus reminds me of two lines in a song written years ago by Paul Simon, "The Sounds of Silence." With apologies to those not close to retirement age - and who therefore may well not remember that song - these are the lines:

"Hello darkness, my old friend;
I've come to talk with you again."

The blind Bartimaeus is surrounded by the dark, his constant companion. And he sits on the side of the road, as life passes by, somewhere out there in the darkness. But, what happened in the story of Bartimaeus that offered him help and that provided him with hope?

Of course, the source of help and of hope for Bartimaeus was Jesus himself. Bartimaeus called out to Jesus who was walking past one day. The blind beggar had been told by others that it was Jesus of Nazareth on the road … and so, Bartimaeus called to him. And, in response, Jesus encountered Bartimaeus personally. "A great multitude" was there, but Jesus responded personally to the plea of Bartimaeus. Jesus said, "Call him." Then we read in St. Mark, "They called the blind man, saying to him, 'Take heart; rise; he is calling you.' And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus." (Mk. 10:49-50)

By means of that personal encounter, the healing of Bartimaeus was accomplished. He no longer sat on the roadside in his blindness. He did not live in darkness any more. He was helped, for he was healed.

The second thing to recognize about this story is Bartimaeus' reaction to his having been helped and healed. We read, "He followed Jesus on the way." (vs.52) In that response, there is a clear indication of hope.

Bartimaeus may have followed Jesus in order to seek more personal contact with him. Or, perhaps Bartimaeus wanted to become a part of this ministry, this movement, which centered on the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Probably, Bartimaeus followed on the way in response to a combination of motives … But surely, in his response, there is the possibility of hope - hope for Bartimaeus himself and hope for others on the roadside as well.

But the Gospel story is not just about Bartimaeus this morning. We are involved, too, for we ourselves are sometimes in need of help and of hope. The circumstance of Bartimaeus on the side of the road may not be so different from our situation, sometimes in life. At certain points, we may find ourselves sitting on the roadside, in times of darkness. We too may feel out of place. We too may sense that life is passing by. At such times, however, we pray that God's grace may be sufficient to remind us that there is help and there is hope, even as we sit in our darkness.

Help comes in the person of a loved one or a friend or a stranger who offers us encouragement - encouragement that comes through these other people, but ultimately, Jesus is its source. That encouragement may be a word of support, or of concern, or of humor. The word of encouragement does come, if we have ears to hear it. Remember, though, that there are multitudes out there, and we must be receptive to a personal word of help. We must listen for it. We must be open to being encouraged. That is essential in the healing process. Remember Bartimaeus who took the initiative and called out to Jesus … and Jesus, in turn, responded to him and helped him.

If we are receptive, help will come as healing for our blindness - whatever that blindness happens to be. Instruments of God's healing are everywhere, in all kinds of people and circumstances. And through such instruments of God, help is offered, and healing becomes real.

Hope for the future accompanies such help. Once our blindness is healed and our darkness dispelled, then we may stand up and follow on this way of life. And the subsequent signs of hope become clear indeed. Simply moving from our spot by the roadside is an indication of hope … getting up and going on our way. And thus, we then become instruments of hope for others. Indeed, there are multitudes on the side of life's road … people who only need a word of encouragement, of support, of concern, or of humor. We can be the instruments of God's help and healing for others. And subsequently, they may find reasons for hope in their lives.

Therefore, the great parade continues, on the way of life, following Jesus Christ as Lord. May we be open to God's means of help and of healing in our own lives. May such Godly instruments provide us with true hope for the future. Then, may we ourselves become instruments of Jesus Christ, as we encounter blindness of heart and frustration of will on the roadside of life. May we, too, join with Jesus in offering help and in encouraging hope to a world very much in need. Amen.

Copyright © 2009 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee