Reflections
The story begins with a blind man sitting beside the road begging. When the beggar hears that Jesus is passing by he begins to call out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Son of David, have compassion on me!” The people tell him to keep quiet. A useless beggar like him has no right disturbing the Master. But the beggar ignores them and keeps crying out. Now Jesus stops. Jesus orders the man to be brought to him. “What do you want me to do for you?” Now listen to this man’s response to Jesus’ question: “Lord, please let me see.” His request is more than physical sight. It is to see his life differently - from a useless beggar to a person with dignity and self-worth. Jesus immediately responds: “Receive your sight. Your faith has made you well, has healed and made you whole.” Jesus restored his status as a human being worthy of respect and honor. And what did the man do when he could see? He became a follower of Jesus and gave glory to God. No longer blind, no longer a beggar, no longer by the road but on the road with Jesus. The story also applies to each one of us when our eyes are opened to the suffering and exclusion of the poor and the defenseless. Our eyes are blind when we ignore them and when we participate in their exclusion. Our eyes are opened when, like Jesus, we participate in their inclusion in our communities and no longer see them as beggars but as full members of our society.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2018