Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 18:35-43), Jesus is on his way to Jericho when he is confronted by a blind man. The blind man is sitting on the side of the road when he hears a crowd of people passing by. The blind man is curious and wants to know what is happening. The crowd tells him that Jesus is passing by. Hearing the good news he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd is annoyed at the blind man and tells him to be quite. Ignoring the crowd, the blind man calls out even loader. Jesus, hearing his plea, commanded that the blind man be brought over to him. Jesus said to the man, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” This story has several key messages. The first is that the blind man proclaims Jesus and the Messiah, the Son of David. Even though he is blind, he can see clearly that Jesus is the Son of God. Secondly, the blind man is persistent in his cries for help. He does not let things get in the way of his desire to see Christ. He ignores the crowd and continues his pleas. The third message is the healing. Jesus tells the blind man, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” So why did the blind man receive his sight? Not because of his cries, but because he was persistent in his faith. The blind man asked Jesus to have mercy on him. This act of faith touched Jesus. The blind man prayed with conviction, with urgency and with persistence. He did not give up after the first cry for help. We too must pray persistently, but most importantly, we must with conviction and with urgency. We must ask Christ to have mercy on us and to give us our sight. If we are blind to the will God, then we too should cry out, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” God will reward your plea because of your faith.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, let me receive my sight.

Let me see your mercy and grace.

Let me see your wonder and awe.

May I never overlook the love which you pour out for me.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon