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

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

More and more, I appreciate the profound wisdom that comes to us through unlikely sources. For instance, for many years the cartoon character Charlie Brown has personified Everyman and Everywoman for us all. He represents us, especially in our times of difficulty. And thus, the human condition is reflected on the cartoon page by Charlie Brown.

One day he and his friend Linus are having a discussion. Charlie Brown says, "I think I can understand your fear of libraries … You fear the library rooms because they are strange to you. You are out of place there." And Linus asks, "In what area do you feel out of place, Charlie Brown?" And he responds, "Earth!" (The Gospel According to Peanuts, p78).

Then, on another day, these same two friends chat as they lean against a wall. Linus says, "I feel kind of depressed today. Do you ever have the feeling that life has passed you by?" And Charlie Brown answers, "Worse than that … Sometimes I think that life and I are going in different directions!" (The Parables of Peanuts, p167).

While Charlie Brown's reactions are stereotyped and extreme, still he does represent all of us, at least some of the time. Recently, I have spoken with several folks who seem overwhelmed and unable to cope with daily life and with its demands. These people, like Charlie Brown, feel out of place on the earth they know. They perceive that life is passing them by … or worse still, that life and they are going in different directions.

As one example, we could certainly point to some recent General Convention decisions. Some church people have been upset about what the Convention has done - more so probably in 2003 than in 2006, at least in East Tennessee. Nevertheless, these folks may agree with Charlie Brown in feeling very much passed by and out of place, unfortunately.

In another person's case, work seems to be the problem. That is, the job is just not fulfilling for this person. There seem to be no possibilities for advancement or for self-satisfaction. And yet, realistic alternatives have not appeared. This person feels stuck in an unrewarding job, with little hope for future improvement. Life is passing by.

And finally, there is the case of the person growing older. I have dealt with such circumstances in the cases of both my parents in recent years. In their situations and in others, there may not much ahead but illness and hardship - or, so it seems. Feelings of being passed by and of being out of place are indicated in this instance, too.

In these and other situations, then, people may feel very much out of place. They - we - may perceive that life is passing by … perhaps even going in the other direction. Our situation - along with those other folks I mentioned - may seem helpless and hopeless, at times.

This brings us to the point of considering our Gospel passage and, especially, the individual mentioned there 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 passed by on the side of the road.

And this image of Bartimaeus reminds me of two lines in a song written by Paul Simon, "The Sounds of Silence":

"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 … And so, also, sometimes we sit - or so it seems - in our blindness, surrounded by the darkness, on the side of the road of life.

What happened in the story of Bartimaeus that might give us encouragement and hope? And, can we gain from that story some new perspective on our way - the road of life?

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, Bartinaeus called to him. And, in response, Jesus encountered Bartimaeus personally. "A great multitude" was there, but Jesus responded to 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."

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 healing. We read, "He followed Jesus on the way." 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. 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.

So it is with us as we sit on the roadside, in our 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 there.

Help comes in the person of a loved one or a friend or a stranger who offers us encouragement - encouragement that is offered 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.

If we are receptive, help will come as healing for our blindness - whatever our 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 spring up and follow on this way of life. And the subsequent signs of hope are two-fold. First, simply moving from our spot by the roadside is an indication of hope … getting up and going on our way. And secondly, 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 healing for those people.

Therefore, the great parade goes on the way of life, following Jesus Christ as Lord. May we be open to God's instruments of healing in our own lives. Then, may we help heal the blindness of hearts on the roadside. And, finally, may we join with Jesus in offering help and in encouraging hope to a world very much in need. Amen.

Copyright © 2006 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee