BLIND BUT NOT MUTE

Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time

Lk 18:35-43

The beggar in the Gospel today was blind but he was no mute. He called out to Jesus for healing; and the people in front scolded him, he shouted even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.”

It is striking to note that while the beggar already could not see, the people around him seemed to have wanted him unable to speak too. They wanted him both blind and mute. But Jesus heard and saw him.

One lesson we can learn from this blind beggar was his determination to obtain from Jesus what he wanted. The people around him were not able to deter him from catching Jesus’ attention. Blind that he was, he could not see his way to Jesus. Thus, he shouted. Annoyed by his shouting, the people rebuked him. But he was not intimidated. Such was his faith, not on himself but on Jesus. He believed that Jesus cared for him as much as Jesus had the power to restore His sight. His faith has saved him.

We may not be blind, but sometimes when we cannot see things clearly. Other times, we cannot see at all. Let no nothing intimidate us from calling out to Jesus and telling Him what we really want. He notices us. He hears us. He can and he cares.

We may not be blind, but others may be. Let us not be the block between them and Jesus. They do not need to shout and annoy us with their shouting if only we try to be their eyes to see the way to Jesus. When the blind beggar shouted to Jesus, Jesus ordered the people who scolded the beggar to bring the blind man to Him. They who stood between the blind beggar and Jesus became the means for them to meet.

Do we hear a blind man shouting today?