Here is today’s Gospel, from St Luke; ‘As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God’.

St Ephrem the Syrian wrote in his commentary on the Diatessaron: ‘The Light came into the world to give sight to the blind and faith to those who lacked it. When he approached the blind man, he [the blind man] cried out and said, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The beggar’s hand was stretched out to receive a penny from human beings and found himself receiving the gift of God! “Son of David, have mercy on me.” He correctly understood that Jesus was the Son of David, David who spared the blind and the lame of the Jebusites. What did he then answer him? “See, your faith has saved you.” Christ did not say to him, “It is your faith that has caused you to see,” in order to show that faith had first given him life and then bodily sight’.

We are all, in some measure, spiritually blind. Let us therefore take up our position alongside the beggar and entreat the merciful Lord to take pity on our condition and heal us. He will do so, in His own time and his own way.

May God bless you this day.