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Infront of the text – Who is the blind man today?

Blindness in its definition means lack of perception, awareness, or judgement.

We can observe from the scripture that the beggars physical blindness represents our blindness to others, to human need and to action for a better world. He represents the poor and the marginalized/ discriminated and minority groups in our current society.

Christian faith is clear sighted, realistic and compassionate. Which correlates with spiritual blindness referring to the inability to see others needs below the surface. Just as Jesus saw the blind man’s faith, we are encouraged to reach out to those who are lacking spiritual sight. Including ourselves and our evaluation of our blindness to Jesus’ teachings and faith. We are challenged by Bartimaeus and his yearning for Jesus despite the loud adversity around him.

http://www.rec.bne.catholic.edu.au/Pages/Theological-Background-Details.aspx?tbid=338

http://www.rec.bne.catholic.edu.au/Pages/Theological-Background-Search.aspx?k=bartimaeus&cs=This%20Site&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rec.bne.catholic.edu.au

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www.rec.bne.catholic.edu.au/Pages/Theological-Background-Details.aspx?tbid=339

World Behind the Text
The authorship of the Gospel which bears the name of Mark is unknown. The Gospel writer was influenced by the stories, wisdom and leadership of Peter until Peter’s martyrdom sometime between 64 and 67C.E. The Gospel of Mark was probably written between 65- 70 C.E., after the death of Peter and towards or at the end of the four-year war between Israel and Rome a time of turmoil, suffering and death.  According to tradition, the Gospel was written in Rome. The Gospel of Mark was predominately written for a gentile community. This community needed affirmation and encouragement as they dealt with problems of persecution. (For further information please read here.)

The cure of the blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 also reflects religious and cultural understandings and treatment of blindness and blind people in the ancient Near East.  For further information see Blindness in the Ancient Near East.

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BLINDNESS

In a few passages blindness is mentioned as a punishment inflicted by God:
Theologically speaking, all cases of blindness are attributed to God (Ex. 4:11), just as the restoration of sight is credited to Him (Ps. 146:8). However, outside of the specific cases mentioned, blindness in general is nowhere stated to be a punishment for sin.

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/blindness

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/smiths-bible-dictionary/blindness.html
SON OF DAVID
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/jesus-christ-name-and-titles-of.html

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Who are the people 'ordering the blind to be quiet' in today's world?
Leaders (national, school, work, church) - ignore the most vulnerable in society eg. the treatment of refugees.
Parents - perhaps reinforcing prejudice
The media - only promoting one side of the story
Teachers - perhaps ignoring the less able in the classroom?
Ordinary people - eg. walking past a homeless person and doing nothing

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https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_1332.cfm

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How am I blind?
Refer to Michael Fallon
Who does the blind man represent in our society?

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World in Front - how am I blind?
Is my faith strong enough to follow Jesus?
Have I put up barriers to Jesus?
How is this text good news to us?
Who does Bartimaeus represent?

World behind - messianic reference by using Son of David

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World in Front

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Was he really blind or just blind to the message of God

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When has Jesus healed the blind in the past?

What is the point of this text?

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was Bartimaeus an important person

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Where is Jericho?
Who was Bartimaeus?
Who was Timaeus?
What was life like for a beggar at the time?
What was the belief about blindness/illness etc?
What does "Son of David" mean?

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Where were they going?

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www.rec.bne.catholic.edu.au/Pages/Theological-Background-Details.aspx?tbid=339

World Behind the Text
The authorship of the Gospel which bears the name of Mark is unknown. The Gospel writer was influenced by the stories, wisdom and leadership of Peter until Peter’s martyrdom sometime between 64 and 67C.E. The Gospel of Mark was probably written between 65- 70 C.E., after the death of Peter and towards or at the end of the four-year war between Israel and Rome a time of turmoil, suffering and death.  According to tradition, the Gospel was written in Rome. The Gospel of Mark was predominately written for a gentile community. This community needed affirmation and encouragement as they dealt with problems of persecution. (For further information please read here.)

The cure of the blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52 also reflects religious and cultural understandings and treatment of blindness and blind people in the ancient Near East.  For further information see Blindness in the Ancient Near East.

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http://www.word-sunday.com/Files/b/30-b/A-30-b.html
this website has info on world of text and meaning for us today
Link between this scripture text and our faith understanding -

FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING WORK hand in hand to bring us closer to our Maker.

Is it a miracle, is it trespassing on other ideas of miracles in the past.

Miracles also require a vision that makes the impossible possible. Unlike marvels or feats, miracles require a level of faith. Miracles require people to trust in a power greater than they possess. On a dusty road, a blind beggar saw with faith what was possible. And he reached out to One who could help him.

ttp://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/10
whole of Ch10 - what stories told before this. Son of God came to serve others

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Kerry GrochBARTIMAEUS, the son of Timaeus, was a blind beggar. Jesus encountered him on the road leading out of Jericho on his route to Jerusalem for his final Passover. Jesus healed him (Mark 10:46–52). A very similar account is recorded on Jesus' approach to Jericho in Luke 18:35–43, and Matthew records the healing of two blind men on leaving Jericho in Matt. 20:29–34. The blind man's appeal that Jesus, as the 'son of David', should show mercy is significant. This was a recognition of Jesus' lineage back to King David, but, almost certainly, it was also a recognition of Jesus' messianic status. It is interesting that this ascription becomes the focus of a discussion between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day a little later in Mark 12:35–36. Unlike those leaders, this beggar had faith that the son of David could heal him. His faith was rewarded, and he was immediately healed.

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Kerry GrochBARTIMAEUS, the son of Timaeus, was a blind beggar. Jesus encountered him on the road leading out of Jericho on his route to Jerusalem for his final Passover. Jesus healed him (Mark 10:46–52). A very similar account is recorded on Jesus' approach to Jericho in Luke 18:35–43, and Matthew records the healing of two blind men on leaving Jericho in Matt. 20:29–34. The blind man's appeal that Jesus, as the 'son of David', should show mercy is significant. This was a recognition of Jesus' lineage back to King David, but, almost certainly, it was also a recognition of Jesus' messianic status. It is interesting that this ascription becomes the focus of a discussion between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day a little later in Mark 12:35–36. Unlike those leaders, this beggar had faith that the son of David could heal him. His faith was rewarded, and he was immediately healed.

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The Text to be used for this activity           Mark 10:46-52 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)   The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus46        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. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 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.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher,[a] let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.   

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The Text to be used for this activity           Mark 10:46-52 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)   The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus46        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. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 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.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher,[a] let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.   