Vision
“Then Jesus said, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ / ‘Teacher,’ said the one who was blind, ‘I want to see.’” — Mark 10:51
{Note: Bulletin inserts with pictures are referenced in this sermon. To see those you will need to go to the sermon area of the web site of the United Church of Christ, First Congregational of Norwich (the web site is
Those of you who know me well know this is my favorite time of year. Yes, I like the Fall color. Yes, I like the cooler temperatures. But those are not what makes this time of year special for me.
I am an avid Baseball fan. This is the time of year called the World Series. (It might end tonight but we’re still in it.) In part because they were recognizing this special time of year, the Major League Baseball Network in conjunction with the playing of the Fall Classic, also recognized that last Tuesday, the 24th of October, was the 40th anniversary of the death of the man who broke the color barrier in Baseball, Jackie Robinson.
One of the segments in that program was devoted to an interview by Bob Costas, the well known sports broadcaster, with David Robinson, Jackie’s son. The younger Robinson said he has two pictures of his Father in the midst of that baseball career hanging in his office. You’ve got copies of the both of them in your bulletin.
One is the iconic picture of Robinson stealing Home, sliding under the tag of Yogi Berra in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 1955 World Series at Yankee Stadium. (The pastor holds up the insert with that picture.) That 1955 World Series was the only one the Brooklyn Dodgers— emphasis on Brooklyn— the only World Series the Brooklyn Dodgers ever won.
And, since that successful steal of Home is so well remembered and the fact that the Dodgers did win that series is so well remembered, what is probably less well remembered is the Dodgers actually lost the game when Robinson stole Home. So, despite the loss of that one game, the steal of Home is remembered as a symbol of triumph and that triumph is symbolized by this photo.
The second picture in David Robinson’s office is not as iconic but may be of even more interest. (The pastor holds up the insert with that picture.) The picture was taken on October 3rd, 1951, at the end of the game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. This is the famous (or for Brooklyn fans infamous) “Shot Heard 'round the World” game.
This game ended with the Giants batter, Bobby Thompson, hitting a home run to win the game and take the National League Pennant from the Dodgers. The loss was heartbreaking for the Dodgers since they had led the Giants by a 13½ game margin as late as August 11th that year. But the Giants put together a streak almost unequaled in baseball history. They had a record of 37 wins and only 7 losses over the course of their last 44 games.
What you see in the picture, taken from center field looking in toward the plate, are the Giants mobbing Thompson who has just hit the Home Run. You also see Robinson near his Second Base position, seemingly immobile, staring intently at celebrating team. One might assume Jackie stands there simply in disgust.
But in the interview with Costas, David Robinson, Jackie’s son, explained what was really happening, what was going in with Jackie in that picture. Jackie stood there checking that Thompson had touched each base and had touched home plate on the one in a million chance that he might have, in the jubilation of the moment, missed a bag. He then, of course, could been declared out and the game would continue because it would only be tied.
David Robinson went on to explain the reason this picture was so important to him and to his family is it embodied one of the life lessons his Father taught. (Quote:) “It is against our rules to give up.”
So, that picture and that moment was not and is not a symbol of defeat. It is a symbol of how you need to live your life, the tenacity with which you need to move forward, even in the face of what feels like disaster. (Slight pause.)
And these words are from Mark: “Then Jesus said, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ / ‘Teacher,’ said the one who was blind, ‘I want to see.’” (Slight pause.)
The name of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus ben-Timaeus, is an unusual mixture of Greek and Hebrew. In Hebrew the name might mean unclean. And in that era, a blind beggar would be seen as ritually unclean.
But in Greek, the name might mean honorable. Further, on the Greek side of that ledger, Timaeus is the name of the person in Plato’s Dialogue who claims sight is the foundation of knowledge. So, while the name mixes these two languages, one is tempted to guess there is a point being made here in both languages.
But that aspect is, I think, a sidelight. If we concentrate on the actions of Bartimaeus, tenacity is a clear trait. The question we have to ask is: why? Why is Bartimaeus so tenacious? (Slight pause.)
I want to suggest Bartimaeus had a clear vision before he was granted sight. And that vision had to do with a belief in who God is. It seems to me this is a belief in a God who loves and that love has no limits in its vision for possibilities.
You see, I think we live in a world with limited vision— not limited sight, limited vision. Let me ask this: not what kind of sight but what kind of vision does it take to see that God loves all people?
Not what kind of sight but what kind of vision does it take to see we need to be about the work of God? Not what kind of sight but what kind of vision does it take to see that we need to be about the work of feeding the hungry, clothing those in tatters, sheltering the homeless, providing adequate health care? (Slight pause.)
In our Adult Education time on Sunday Morning we’ve been looking at a set of DVDs called the Living the Question. In one of them theologian Marcus Borg says this (quote): “We live in a time of transition in the Church which has been underway for over a half a century. It’s a transition between an older, conventional way of seeing Christianity that most Christians have taken for granted for a couple of centuries.”
“That older, conventional understanding (usually semi-literalistic, doctrinal and after-life orientated) has become unpersuasive for many. A whole host of questions are generated by the erosion or collapse of that older vision” [unquote]. (Slight pause.)
I think one of the things the Bible is about is about having a vision concerning one specific question: where is God leading us— now, today? Are we being led to stand in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed? If not, are we not then, somehow, placing limits on vision, limits on the possibilities God would have us see? Standing in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed— is that God’s vision. (Slight pause.)
I want to talk about one other incident in the life of Jackie Robinson. But there is no picture of it. It was only reported.
Pee Wee Reese was the Dodger Shortstop and a native of Kentucky. Indeed, in an acknowledgment of that Southern heritage, his nickname was “The Little Colonel.” One day, just before a game in Cincinnati, right across the river from Kentucky, Reese heard fans shouting racial slurs at Robinson. In response, Reese walked over to Robinson and put an arm around him showing support and solidarity.
A statue stands at KeySpan Park, the minor league ballpark in Brooklyn, which commemorates this event. This is a replica of that statue— it’s larger than life-size outside of the park. (The pastor holds up the replica.) I have it sitting in my office to remind me that one of the most important things we can have is the vision— the vision— to be in solidarity with the oppressed. (Slight pause.)
We can offer all kinds of help to people. We can feed the hungry, clothe those in tatters, etc., etc. But sometimes the most important thing we can do is stand with others, stand with others as people around them are shouting, telling them to be quiet, submissive, just as the crowd shouted at Bartimaeus.
When we see racism, homophobia, economic oppression, voting rights endangered, the right to adequate health care endangered— you name the ill— when we see these, sometimes we need to simply stand in solidarity with others. And that, my friends, is at least a part of what having vision is about— seeing the possibilities God would have us see for the rights of all people. When we have that kind of vision, one which empowers us to stand in solidarity with others, then we truly have a vision about what loving all people means. Amen.
10/28/2012
United Church of Christ, First Congregational, Norwich, New York
ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the Congregational Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “Robinson stole Home 18 times. That’s more than any other player in the major leagues who made their debut after 1920. It takes daring, skill, ability to steal home. But most of all it takes vision. This is a vision which says something can be done when most people say it can’t be done. I think that is the kind of vision to which God invites us: a vision which says God loves everyone. I don’t think God says ‘no’ to that kind of vision.”
BENEDICTION: Go out in the strength and love God provides. Praise the deeds of God by the way you live, by the way you love. And may the steadfast love of God and the peace of Christ, which surpasses understanding, keep our minds and hearts in the companionship and will of the Holy Spirit, this day and forever more. Amen.
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