What do you want me to do for you?

In the last twenty years we become somewhat inured to the plight of the poorest of the poor. We are bombarded with images of volcanoes, floods, landslides, earthquakes, tornados, bush fires, hurricanes, tsunamis – not to mention Iraq and Afghanistan. These images bring an immediacy not present where cultural, political and climactic change is slow, but progressive, where entire provinces lose populations to neighbouring provinces and countries, where searing poverty and its sister, hunger, overwhelm remaining populations. Education, health, water supply, women’s rights, freedom of religion, of movement, of occupation, of origin, of political persuasion are critical indicators not only of human rights, but of humanity itself.

We fight so many battles, and many we win. But some battles that we ‘fight’ on African continent or the Indian sub-continent appear unwinnable.

The Gospel this week is unequivocal about its message. Mark (10:46 – 52) records the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar. On hearing that Jesus was passing nearby, he called out, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ Those accompanying Jesus attempted to silence him. Jesus approached him and asked, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Bartimaeus replied, ‘ Master, let me see again’. Jesus responds, ‘Go, your faith has saved you.’

You see, it is we who are passing by who must hear the cry of the poor and the lame, and it is they who cry for pity (that is, sorrow and compassion). And what do they want us to do for them? They want healing, they want wholeness, they want life – and we do have the capacity to provide for many of their needs, and that is why our response must also be unequivocal: we must make a difference.

Last Sunday was also Mission Sunday. The invitation we received through its celebration was for each one of us to commit to action, in prayer, through the gift of money, time or goods to make real the mission given to the Church by Jesus. It’s a tough call. The bottom line is that this is a response that arises from our baptism, no more no less. We are empowered by baptism to hear God’s word with clarity, entrusted to respond with generosity and impelled to proclaim God’s saving power and love.

So whether the ‘voice’ comes from the devastation of Samoa or Indonesia, or the ruin of Sudan or Sri Lanka, we must ask: What do you want me to do for you?