6. Движение веры в Иерихонском слепце

Today's Gospel describes the miraculous healing of a blind man who was sitting on the way at the gates of Jericho. For us, who live on earth filled with sorrows and all kinds of sorrows, it is very gratifying to hear how our brethren receive relief from the evils that beset them - and not only gratifying, but also instructive. Who can avoid all troubles?! Who is completely free from sorrows and hardships?! Who therefore does not need to know: where and how to turn in their extreme need. And this is what the current Gospel teaches us. “At the time it happened, when Jesus approached Jericho, a certain blind man sat along the way, asking.” This was already towards the end of the earthly life of Jesus Christ, shortly before the fourth Easter, when the Lord was pleased to suffer on the cross for our race. Leaning towards Jerusalem, He said to His disciples: “Behold, we are ascending to Jerusalem, and all the Prophets who have written about the Son of Man will come to an end. They will betray Him with their tongues, and mock Him, and reproach Him, and spit on Him, and immediately kill Him” (Luke 18:31-33). No one understood this prophecy: but the heart involuntarily drew everyone to the heavenly Benefactor, in order to enjoy His conversation for the last time, to be enriched by His benefits for the last time. And now more than usual people gathered around the Lord. Accompanied by this people, “Jesus draw near to Jericho.” Here, before the gates of Jericho, “a certain blind man sat along the way.” This was his usual place, and Jesus Christ had already passed by it more than once. But the blind man receives his sight only this time - no doubt because only now is full saving faith in the Lord revived in his soul. He probably reasoned with himself: “Here the Healer of all ailments walks across our land; I heard how the lame walked, the deaf heard, the dumb spoke, and the blind like me saw, and not a single unfortunate person who came to Him with faith ever left Him without help. This is exactly the great Prophet, King, Messiah about whom our books write. Why am I the only one hesitating and depriving myself of daylight and the wonderful beauty of God’s creation?! Either there is no healing for me alone, or I alone am destined to sit in eternal prison, I alone remain blind until death. No. Let only the Lord Jesus pass by: I will cry to Him, I will cry out loudly and will not be silent until He comes to me and gives light to my eyes to see His wonderful face. He is my God. I will give myself entirely to Him, I will fall at His feet and say: do with me whatever you want, just give me insight.” While occupied with such thoughts, the unfortunate blind man kindled in his heart a living faith in the Lord Jesus. Perhaps, after a little time, his spirit would have fallen again and surrendered into the hands of his bitter lot: but his heart was still warm, the fire of faith and hope was still burning in his soul, as he heard the noise and tramp of a large crowd of people approaching him. These were the people who walked ahead of Jesus Christ. The blind man rejoiced tremblingly, and hurried to ask the first person who passed by: what does such a gathering of people mean - he had already forgotten about alms. Now he has only one desire in his heart, that among this multitude of people there should be his beloved Savior. “What is this?” he asked. Is it not Jesus, is it not the Lord, is it not my hope that draws near? And when he received the answer according to the desire of his heart: “for Jesus of Nazareth passes by, cry out with all your strength, saying: Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.” Those who preceded the Lord, out of imprudent concern for His peace, forbade the blind man and forced him to remain silent: but he did not listen to them, “but the multitude cried out more: Son of David, have mercy on me,” for the power of faith and hope is irresistible. And if now the whole multitude of people had gathered around him and were disgusted with him, he would not have stopped crying out: “Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.” However, even if the blind man were silent, the Lord would not fail to approach him and say: “see,” for He saw his soul, saw strong faith and strong hope, the invisible cry of which in the face of the Lord is always more audible than the sensual cry. Moreover, now, when he raised his voice so loudly, the Lord did not want to leave him without help, in order to inspire him that the appeals of the unfortunate and the sighs of the sorrowful are always accessible to His humane heart. “When Jesus stood, he commanded that he be brought to Himself.” The blind man jumped up with joy and reverently approached the Lord, wholeheartedly surrendering himself to Him. The Lord knew what was in his heart; but in order to show his faith to others and confirm it even more in himself, he asked him: “What do you want, will I do to you? “Lord, let me see,” was the blind man’s answer. I want one thing, let me see the light of day and the beauty of Your face! I am all Yours; Do with me whatever you want, just “let me see, Lord, let me see!” Strong is your faith, said the Lord: it has saved you. “Get your sight: and I will see again.” Do you recognize in this Benefactor the word of Almighty God? At the beginning, “the Lord said, let there be light, and there be light.” Here he said: “see clearly: and abiye see.” But notice also in those who have been blessed the fruits of faith and the thoughts of a grateful heart. “Receive your sight, and follow His footsteps, glorifying God.” The first path that his own eyes showed him was the path to follow Jesus Christ. The first use of the received benefit was its dedication to the Giver. He now had one Lord in his heart, one glory of God on his tongue. He did not want to be like the 9 lepers, he wanted everyone to know about his happiness and everyone to glorify his Benefactor; raised his grateful voice, praising God, “and all the people who saw it gave praise to God.” Glory to the Lord, who visited our poor race and delivered us from the countless evils that oppress us! Not only when He was on earth did the unfortunate receive help from Him, but at all times he who comes to Him does not leave Him empty-handed. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” and He gives rest. Glory to the Lord, our Comforter, our peace, our light! We only need to hope and believe, and the Lord will reward all sorrows, all hardships. He is now at the right hand of the Father and has taken the reins of the world, precisely for this purpose: “that He may create all things, if anyone asks Him in faith.” Now the poor will not be completely forgotten, the patience of the poor will not be completely destroyed” (Ps. 9:19); but “he who trusts in the Lord will receive mercy” (Ps. 31:10). Whose soul “looks forward to God, its Helper and Protector; He hides him in the secret of His face from the rebellion of man, He covers it with shelter from the strife of the tongue” (Ps. 30:21). “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and will save the humble in spirit” (Ps. 33:19). If anyone is sick, call on the Lord and he will heal; If anyone is in trouble, turn to the Lord, and he will deliver; if anyone is in trouble, fall down to the Lord, and he will deliver. With faith and hope alone, one must approach the Lover of Mankind and expect good from Him with a firm determination to dedicate the gift requested to Him first, and He will not become obdurate. For he said: “Because I trusted in Me, I will deliver, and I will cover, because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will destroy him, and I will glorify him” (Ps. 91:14-15). “Lord, may Thy mercy be upon us also, as we trust in Thee” (Ps. 32:22). Amen. On the 31st week of Pentecost. You might be interested in: