What Do You Want Me to Do for You?

This Sunday we get to spend some time with Bartimaeus. You may remember him. He’s mostly known for his visual impairment and for being healed by Jesus, but as I read this passage again, it makes me wonder if, in his day, he was really known for his discipleship. He’s not one of the many unnamed people Jesus heals. When he’s introduced in the story, we’re not only given his name, but we’re told who his father is. At the end of the story, after he’s healed, it’s clear that it’s not really the end of his story. He comes with Jesus. Identifying him specifically and mentioning that he continues on with Jesus makes me think his discipleship story is important. As disciples ourselves, what can we learn from this disciple’s encounter with Jesus?

What touches me in the story is that question that Jesus poses to Bartimaeus: “What do you want me to do for you?"

With this question, Jesus does not make assumptions about what Bartimaeus wants. In fact, he gives him the autonomy – really, the dignity – to name what he wants for himself. That’s really important. In ministry and service, how often do I ask people what they want and need rather than presuming what I think they should want or need? Making assumptions and dumping things onto people robs them of their dignity, and it’s not the model of service that Jesus had in his ministry. And yet, wealthy countries do that to developing countries all the time, and presumably fortunate people do that to so-called “less fortunate” people too. I reflect back to all the service trips I’ve done with college students and wonder how we were with people. Did we offer what people needed or what we thought they needed? Were we mutual and relational, or was our giving a one-way street? I’ve wondered more than once if we left behind a bunch of poorly-done home projects in Eastern Kentucky because we were well-intentioned volunteers who didn’t know what we were doing. It’s cringey to reflect on that but worth it if it brings a change of heart. I’d much rather minister like Jesus did than not.

Of course, the other side of the coin is this: how do I answer that question from Jesus? How do you answer that question from Jesus? What do you want me to do for you? And do we even allow Jesus to ask it of us? Do we presume that God is all-knowing, and so we don’t need to ask for what we need? This question kind of gets to the heart of prayer, and I’ve had conversations about it with lots of people over the years. Why do we pray if God already knows what we need?

There are lots of reasons why we pray, and a lot of time my prayer is not so much needs-based but simply time spent with God. On the other hand, maybe there is an invitation here to ask God for what I need. The thing is, I’m not always in touch with my own needs. I can move through life assuming I’m pretty self-sufficient, but the reality is that I have plenty of needs that I cannot meet by myself. Jesus’s question helps me to self-reflect: what do I really need right now? What do I want? That’s a good discernment question. What do I need and want from God? Asking this of myself helps me to turn to God in my vulnerability and need.

So, let’s enter into this story and connect it with our own lives a little more deeply:

If you were to enter this scene and sit beside Bartimaeus to wait for Jesus, what would be running through your head?

What would you hope for as you called Jesus’s name? And what would you say to get his attention?

As he stopped and called you, what would you do? As you stood before him, how would you feel?

He asks you directly, “What do you want me to do for you?” How do you respond?

Linger in this scene with Jesus. You can say more about what you need and why you need it, you can talk with him about anything else on your mind and heart, or you can simply be with him in silence.

by Sister Leslie Keener, CDP

Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She’s a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, dancing, meaningful conversations, and pumpkin spice.

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