Reading
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Comment
The healing of the blind man immediately follows the third announcement of passion by Jesus and perhaps it is placed in symbolic relation to the inability of the disciples to understand his earthly destiny until the moment of the resurrection when they will be able to see what before they can't see.
The blind man's physical impairment forces him to a life of hardship and begging along the way, just as spiritual blindness keeps man away from the riches of God's kingdom.
But along the road where the blind man lies, he finds Jesus passing by. Unable to see, the man makes the eyes of the crowd his own and the announcement of Jesus' arrival comes to him through hearing. He thus proclaims his profession of faith with his tongue: "Son of David!". He recognizes Jesus as the promised Messiah and the attempts to silence him by "those who led the way" (v. 39) are useless.
Jesus himself calls him to himself. Thus from "last" he becomes first recipient of the Lord's mercy. His healing transforms him into a witness and herald of God's glory, and he begins to follow Jesus, praising the Lord along with the crowd.
We all have weaknesses, we lack something, but there is also in us the ability to reach Christ "by other paths", overcoming obstacles with an impulse of faith. He not only allows himself to be reached, but he reaches us personally, listening to the cry of our prayer. The Lord passes. Are we able to recognize it?
Prayer
Grant us to find you, Lord, beyond the darkness of our human frailty. May the light of your resurrection guide us to fully understand your mystery of salvation. Amen.
- Rev. Dr. Luca Vona
