By Michael Parker & Kachael J

Two Monologues for Mark 10:46-52, the Blind Bartimaeus Text

Consider using one or both of these before the sermon or as the sermon introduction

I Once Saw Blue

For Mark 10:46-52
(Kachael J)

I once saw blue or was it green?

It was long ago.

And only for a short while.

The moment I started to see, recognize, and name colors, shapes, animals and familiar faces, POOF, it was gone. Now, all I see is black.

(Lost in thought, remembering a distant memory) Yeah, I’m pretty certain it was blue, the color of the priests’ ephod.

Temple, I liked temple. (sad smile)

Definitely, blue?

(Looks up like someone asked a question)

What about black? Like night? No, not like night. I mean kind of, but night is finite, there is a certainty of dawn, of blinding light that bursts into radiant colors.

(Chuckles to self) I said blinding. (beat) Bartimaeus the Blind.

(Returns to original question) No, not like night because even night is punctuated with the light of the moon and twinkle of the stars.

Black, deep, oppressive, unyielding, ever-present black.

Like the rich soil of the choicest vineyard.

But even there, see, light penetrates and color breaks through. Giving birth to a new thing.

Shall it spring forth and you not know it.

(Distracted, surprised, excited) Jesus?!! . . . Did you say? . . . (Jumps up and shouts) “JESUS!! SON OF DAVID!!”

Can You See Me?

For Mark 10:46-52
(Michael Parker)

The crowd shouted no.
The crowd shouted no?
The crowd shouted! No!

Don’t shout at me because my ears are fine. I can hear what you can’t see.
But send me to Jesus.
What I need only his hands can provide.
I woke up one day and could see fine.
I could see my money getting better.
I could see my troubles calling out.
I could see hope that says everything would be okay.
Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my sight to keep.
I went blind before I could wake
So my prayer changed
I prayed to the Lord
Since I can’t see you, let me just hear you more and more each day.
Then one day . . . my day happened
And I was finally close enough to the One I had been hearing for a long time.

To the world, everything about my current state of affairs said I was challenged, filthy, unworthy, from the wrong zip code, too dark, not enough education, talk with just a little too much “s” in my words
But the Voice said, “Your current state of affairs is what draws me to you most.”
I wasn’t perfect. Never have been.
But he took a chance on my perfection, making me more like him.
The crowd shouted no, again and again.
No!
To adequate healthcare
No!!
To just pay for women
No!!!!
To my dreams becoming my realities
But just one “yes” from him opened my eyes
Not the ones in my head but the ones in my spirit
And finally I could see . . . again
I could see sickness conceding to health.
I could see trouble getting tired of troubling.
I could see giving Peter back what was robbed of him just to pay old Paul.
The eyes with which I saw were responsible for opening the eyes that I carry.
My life has been changed
Never to go back that way again
I can see! Praise the Lord! I can see!
No longer blind! No more blindness holding me!
My eyes are open. Can you see me?

Kachael J was a voracious reader growing up and enjoys exploring new worlds through literature. A researcher by training and a worshiper at heart, she desires to see people and communities raised, repaired, and restored by the power of the Holy Spirit and preaching of the gospel. Using one of her hobbies, video editing, Kachael creates videos to encourage and help others in their faith walk. The daughter of a United Methodist ordained elder and a native of Atlanta, Georgia, she currently resides in the Atlanta Metro area and works in commercial real estate.

Rev. Michael Parker is a provisional elder in the United Methodist Church, and he pastors Bells United Methodist Church and United Methodist Church of the Redeemer in Prince George's County, MD. Rev. Parker is pursuing a DMin at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore. He has been a consistent voice for the voiceless.