Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) When I read this passage from the Gospel, I wonder why this blind man was reprimanded and told to be silent. Were Jesus and this sizable crowd in silence or praying? According to the Gospel they were leaving Jericho. So, it is probable that they were talking and sharing. Why was he reprimanded?

If we reprimand somebody and tell him to be silent, it is because he is bothering us. We do not like him or his behavior. He makes us feel uncomfortable. Why do people not like this blind man?

In todays Gospel we see that the Lord Jesus was famous. Many people followed him. Why? What did these people look for in the Lord Jesus? What did they want from Him?

We do not know. But we do know that this blind man wanted something. He wanted to be healed. He wanted to see. Jesus had already performed many miracles. So, one more was possible. This man heard that Jesus of Nazareth was near. The famous Jesus, the healer, the great miracles performer was close. This was his opportunity. He could not lose it. He began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."  He was excited. There was a possibility to be healed, to see. Finally he had a hope, a reason to believe or to keep living.

Here we have many things to meditate on, to learn and to live. Who can say: I need nothing or nobody? Only the person who is blind not with his eyes, but in his soul. So, we can learn from this man to recognize our needs, our weaknesses and our limits.

Furthermore, after recognizing our need, we need to be able to recognize who can help us. Because all of us are Catholic, we need to recognize that God is what we need most in our life. And for that reason I, like the blind man, cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." How? There are many ways. Because I know that I need God in my life, I cannot miss any Sunday Mass and any communion. And maybe I can come to Mass another day besides Sunday. Because I know that I need God in my life, I pray every day and work on praying more piously. Because I know that I need God in my life, I listen to His word with hunger and thirst. Because I know that I need God in my life, I teach so to my children so they will have a reason for hope and joy.

But, all of this will be possible in our Christian life with humility and honesty. Only who is humble and honest will recognize that he cannot do everything by himself and that he needs somebody. He needs God. Because it is a lie and pride to say that we can do everything. Who can say ‘I am 100% sure that tomorrow I will be alive’? Being dishonest and prideful are a kind of blindness.

About this, the Blessed Virgin Mary taught us so well when she said: “The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.” If we want to leave this church blessed by God, filled with good things, we need to recognize that we are hungry, blind and thirsty. Otherwise we will be like those rich who were sent away empty, with nothing.

Today the Lord Jesus asks as he asked the blind man: "What do you want me to do for you?"  And we can make this our blind man’s prayer: "Master, I want to see." Let me explain myself. Lord, when I am before my mom and dad, I want to see the human beings who gave me life and everything and I want to see them with love, gratitude and joy. Oh yes, I want to see. I want to see my neighbor like another man like me. I want to see them with respect and service.

This blind man teaches today several things. To recognize that we have needs. Recognize that God is the solution. Recognize that we are supposed to ask him. And for that we are here, in this Mass.

And we need to be persistent. Like the blind man, somebody will try to reprimand us: ‘Do not waste your time by going to Mass or praying. There is so much to do. That is not useful.’ We need to learn from the blind man to keep calling out. For that we pray every day, every Sunday.

Only after this we will hear like him: "Go your way; your faith has saved you."

 

May God bless you,

Father Eduardo Mendoza