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. - Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV):
We have come to Jericho and we have always been in Jericho.
We are the church, the living and embodied presence of Jesus hearing the voice of the suffering one whom the crowds are turning away and silencing.
We are also the blind man crying out for mercy.
We are the prophetic voice calling him.
We are the crowd carrying the message to him to take heart because Jesus is calling.
We are the inquiring voice asking what the blind man desires.
We are the blind man asking to see.
We are the voice that says, "Go; your faith has made you well."
We are the ones who are healed.
We are those who follow on the way.
We are the broken, blind, beaten and restored healers who follow the Healer of wounded humanity.
