As they left Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “[Lord,] Son of David, have pity on us!” 31 The crowd warned them to be silent, but they called out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!” 32 Jesus stopped and called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They answered him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 Moved with pity, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight, and followed him.
Jericho was a significant city located 15 miles from Jerusalem near the Jordan River. Its importance in Israel's history, especially in the Old Testament (e.g., Joshua 6), adds weight to its mention here as part of the final journey of Jesus to Jerusalem. Jesus’ ministry was growing and a large crowd followed him. The two blind men by the roadside symbolize spiritual blindness, a common Gospel theme that represents the inability of people to recognize Jesus' true identity (Jn. 9:39-41; Mt. 13:13-16).
They acknowledged Jesus as the promised Messiah of Israel, the “Son of David.” This title, "Son of David," is significant because it expresses their recognition of Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel's messianic hope and the Davidic covenant. They also recognized Jesus as a healer and asked for mercy. The crowd tried to silence the blind men but they were persistent with their pleas. The crowd cannot see the true nature of Christ but the blind men "see" Jesus for who he truly is despite their physical blindness. Jesus stopped and asked the blind men what they wanted from him. Their response “Lord, let our eyes be opened” may suggest a desire for more than just physical healing; they could also be seeking spiritual enlightenment, a deeper understanding of divine truth. Moved with compassion, Jesus healed the blind men physically and spiritually and they immediately became disciples. The natural response to encountering the healing power of Christ is to follow him in faith, which is emphasized by their immediate discipleship.
Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us and open our eyes to see your truth and heal the blindness of our hearts. Grant us the grace to follow you faithfully, as those who have been touched by your healing. In your name, we pray. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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