OUR NEW BLOGGER!
Meet Jessica Thompson who, being sight impaired, offers a very personal and informative perspective on living with a disability and the importance of embracing one another as cherished members of the Body of Christ. We are looking forward to sharing with you her insights in this monthly blog. We welcome her first contribution:
Bartimaeus and the Invitation to “Come Inside” (Mark 10:46-52)
Bartimaeus is blind…
A blind beggar…
A blind beggar sitting outside the walls of Jericho…
Where all blind people belong… blind… begging…. Outside.
And Jesus comes… Bartimaeus calls… The crowds shush… “Know your place, Bartimaeus… you are blind… thus a beggar… Outside… Jesus doesn’t have time for the likes of you.”
But Jesus hears…
Jesus responds and calls for Bartimaeus…
“Come over here”… Come Inside.
In Bartimaeus time disabilities like blindness were believed to be a result of some sort of sin such as him or his parents angering some god and that left Bartimaeus blind… a beggar… outside the city… relying on the charity of those entering the gates.
And I would agree, there is sin in this story. For the sin in this story is in society. It is the alienation, being placed outside the city, the crowds shushing Bartimaeus, stripping his humanity simply because he is blind.
Today we have supposedly evolved. Science and medicine are now the answer, not malicious gods. But are we that much different?
We say the church welcomes everyone outside our walled-in, heavy-door church building where there are stairs to get inside, stairs to the altar, stairs to the pulpit. Our theology, liturgy, hymns, and sermons are filled with ableist euphemisms and that same first century metaphor pairing disability with sin.
If we welcome everyone -no exceptions- what does this mean? Are people with disabilities not part of our “Everyone”? Or are they stripped of their humanity by being kept outside?
I wonder… What would it mean to include ALL people, regardless of ability, in the worship, life, and full communion of the Body of Christ? What if we give up the outdated metaphor that disability is weakness and perfection is sacred and embrace the Incarnate Christ who, when risen, still bore the disfiguring scars of his crucifixion?
Would we allow ourselves to become more vulnerable with one another? Possibly. Would we ask for help a bit more? Would we learn to give a bit more grace to others and ourselves?
How would it change us if we brought disabled voices inside, not as a ministry project, but as ministry partners? Valued voices giving new perspectives of God and God’s people.
Anna Kenny shares this perspective in her book, “My Body is Not a Prayer Request”: “We, the disabled, bear prophetic witness about what is true about the fragile human condition. If only the church would listen to us.”
Far too often disabled voices are left out of the discussions on how to include people with disabilities. They become a ministry project -a problem to be fixed -instead of being seen as people of God with autonomy, agency, and unique skills necessary for the Body of Christ to be complete.
I had the honor of serving in the alter party at a Celebration of New Ministry. I processed with my guide dog, received assistance carrying the chalice down to the people, and I shared “The Blood of Christ” in communion with everyone who approached to partake.
Afterward, one of the many priests in attendance, a long-time friend of our new rector, commented. He was surprised by my presence as part of the altar party. He was surprised that I was capable of serving and even more surprised because nobody treated it like it was anything out of the ordinary.
Then he said, “I have a number of people with disabilities in my parish. I’ve always seen and treated them as people to minister to—not active and capable ministers of the church.”
Even in the building, they were still “Outside”. Now this priest was ready to bring them in.
Fortunately, Christ himself shows us where to begin when he calls to Bartimaeus and asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?“
Jesus asks Bartimaeus and his asking granted Bartimaeus’ agency and autonomy over his body and life.
Acknowledging Bartimaeus’ humanity, Jesus calls for Bartimaeus to follow him Inside, entering through the gates, coming inside the city, in community with Jesus and the rest of his followers.
Categorised in: Jessica Blog