Lord, Let Me See Again

Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.’ But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and ordered the man 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 see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God. Luke 18:31-43

This past year, I had some eye surgery to correct dimming eyes. I remember the joy of seeing so much more clearly afterward. No, it was not a miracle healing, but a miracle of modern science. It made me realize that we are so blind so much of the time, unable to see what is right in front of us. We ignore the needs of the people we encounter; we try to silence them as the disciples did, and we refuse to follow Jesus in the way of compassion and caring. A persistent unnamed beggar was healed by Jesus and the man immediately followed him. We are often made better but fail to follow Jesus in gratitude and humility. So may we today, like the man who sight is restored, follow in the way of Jesus' love.

Compassionate Creator, source of healing

you seek those who are suffering and alone

begging to be restored to life and health

and touch them with your healing light.

We are blind to the needs around us

we fail to see the suffering and blame them

we do not see the gifts of our diverse world

and try to silence those who cry out to you.

Lord, let us all see again with your eyes

may our hearts be moved with compassion

may we see the stranger as a relative

and all the world worthy of your healing love. Amen.