Seeing Bartimaeus

In the story of Bartimaeus, the bishop had thought Jesus' friends had not understood and so they tried to protect him from this shouting blind man.  This Sunday, the priest thought it more central to see them leading the blind man forward.  They were his advocates.  Actually, they had done both.  Followers do not always understand, but sometimes they do.  We get in the way, but sometimes we do not stay there.