A blind beggar who heard Jesus
passing by his way loudly cries out these words. The crowds
hush him, but he persists in calling out to Jesus and
making his voice heard above the noises of the people
around him. “Let me see again!” he demands.
What a cry! And how many of us say those words in one
way or another. Those who are in grief or pain may call
out, “Let me feel some joy again.” Those who
suffer greatly from illness may cry out, “Let me
have health again.” Those who are in the midst of
persecutions and imprisonments may say, “Let me
experience freedom again.”
In this case, Jesus affirmed
the faith and persistence of the blind man, and his eyes
were opened. But I am bothered by this, “Why did
those around Jesus try to hush this man? Why did they
try to prevent his coming close to Jesus with his request?”
Did his blindness embarrass them? Was this beggar—surely
smelly and raggedy—too much of an outcast to be
permitted in the ranks of those who saw themselves as
part of Jesus inner crowd?
Mostly, is it possible that
the ones who really needed to see again where those who
were so sure they weren’t blind?
There is not a one among us
who does not have blind spots in his or her own life.
Our blind spots consist of areas we either cannot or will
not look at and that often cause significant destruction
in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Perhaps
those who tried to hush this man seeking healing in the
presence of Jesus were full of their own blind spots.
What they had so freely received from Jesus they were
reluctant to pass on to others. How sad.
So I begin to ask, “Let
me see again!” And I discover as my eyes are opened
that the goodness of God pours out hope on me and teaches
me the incredible joy of hospitality—welcoming all
who seek to discover hope and healing at the feet of Jesus.
