What A Strange Question
But the question is important for uncovering the deepest truth about you!
Recently, I read an article by Michael Wheeler of Harvard Business School on how to make necessary split-second decisions. Interestingly enough, Mr. Wheeler concluded that these kinds of decisions we all face always flow from our life-long and deeply developed character.
Dr. Wheeler's article "Marines Don't Do That: Mastering the Split-Second Decision" concludes that making these kinds of decisions requires us to constantly summon the better parts of our nature. He suggests the question, "Would you be comfortable telling your children what you’re planning to do?" But he doesn't stop there. He goes on to suggest that we all need to surround ourselves with others who have both the moral courage and the freedom of friends to ask us these same uncomfortable questions about our own moral behavior.
But I also want to remind us that all of this moral behavior (or lack thereof) isn't about God keeping some kind of "score." And it isn't about balancing some kind of "good vs. bad" moral bookkeeping that God looks at to decide if we are OK with Him or not.
This ISN'T the teaching of the Faith! There are any number of religious or philosophical systems that teach moral codes that will help you be a moral person. The Faith of Orthodox Christianity is about something (Someone) much more profound than mere behavior modification.
Today, we will see Jesus ask what appears to be a ridiculous question, and He asks us the same question today: “What do you want me to do for you?”
Look at our lesson today in Mark 10:46-52:
At that time, as Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaios, a blind beggar, the son of Timaios, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And 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. And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Rabbi, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Now think about this for a minute. A blind man is brought to a Man with the reputation of healing people, and the Lord still asks what seems to be a nonsensical question. No one in that crowd wondered what Blind Bartimaios wanted. And the Lord knew it, too! So, why ask that question?
The reason goes beyond the mere moralizing that all too many people falsely believe is the purpose of Faith. Jesus asks this question of Bartimaios to have Bartimaios reveal his true self to himself. In fact, if you tell me what you truly and deeply desire, you will know who you really are. Now this is a fundamentally foundational question. It's only by getting to this self-knowledge that I can really see clearly what I need in my own spiritual life to progress to being "like Christ" as St. Paul tells us we are called to become! (see Philippians 3:10)
The purpose of our disciplined Orthodox Christian faith is to get to the heart of who I really am and then be moved by God's grace, the lifetime participation in the sacraments of the Faith, the steady rhythm of the worship and prayers of the Faith, and the purposeful attention to the practice of the Faith until my character is shaped on the deepest level of my person into someone who makes Christ-like split-second decisions based on my changed nature and not on my selfish desires!
Now, that's a lifelong religion! It's something worth pursuing forever. It's big enough to invest my best energies and my sincere focus.
St. Meletios of Armenia was consecrated Bishop of Sebastia in 357 AD. He was known for being blameless and honorable. This good man was driven from his city and fled to the city of Beroea (modern-day Aleppo) in Syria. The current bishop of the area was an Arian heretic and was deposed, but the Orthodox and the Arian groups couldn’t get along. The groups finally settled on Meletios as the compromise candidate, and he was made the bishop of the city. But the goodness of this man wouldn’t allow him to hide the fact that he held completely Orthodox undertsandings of the Faith. This got him in trouble with the Arian Emperor Constantius, and he was banished from his city again. Eventually, he was allowed back to his Episcopacy, only to be banished again when his faithfulness and holiness made those in power uncomfortable. He was so trusted and beloved that he was invited to participate in the 2nd Ecumenical Council. While there, this saintly man fell ill and died. The whole of the Council grieved the loss of this holy man, and his holy relics were returned to Antioch, where he was buried as the hero of the Faith he was.
Today, let's abandon reducing our faith to mere behavioral modification and get serious about becoming the new man or woman we were meant to become! No more playing at the edges of this wondrous lifelong faith! Let’s answer the question from Jesus and tell Him we really do finally want to SEE reality and to SEE HIM. Let's finally determine to live a Normal Orthodox life!
P.S. A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance. You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Meletios, our father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.
