Have Sight

Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible affliction was upon Israel. 1 Maccabees 1:62-63

The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”  Luke 18:39-42

Piety

“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

Study

The blind beggar – named Bartimeus in Mark’s version of this story – identifies Jesus with a title that is related to Jesus’ role as Messiah and as a descendant of David.  Through this Son of David, salvation comes to the blind man, the disciples and us. This is just as was predicted in the beginning of Luke’s Gospel in the Canticle of Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father): “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.  He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant.”  Luke 1:68-69

The cure of the blind beggar is symbolic of what will happen to the disciples, now blind to the meaning of Jesus’ passion and to the necessity of their sharing his suffering. As the men are given insight, after the resurrection, will the disciples come to see that to which they are now blind. In a short period of time, Jesus will enter into Jerusalem and begin that healing.

Action

We see what we want and are blind to what we selectively do not want to see.  To what are you blind?

We hear what we want and are deaf to what we selectively do not want to hear. To what are you deaf?  

We say what we want and are mute to what we selectively decide not to say. To what are you mute?