He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God

Gospel of the Day (Luke 18:35-43)

Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.

They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."

He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!"

Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, What do you want me to do for you? He replied, "Lord, please let me see."

Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."

He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

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Reflections:

"He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God"

Our Redeemer foresaw that the hearts of his disciples would be greatly disturbed by his passion. He foretold to them far ahead both the agony of his passion and the glory of his resurrection (Lk 18,31-33). Then when they beheld him dying, as had been foretold, they would not doubt he was to rise again. But since the disciples, still unspiritual as they were, were entirely unable to grasp the words of the mystery (v.34), there was need of a miracle. A blind man received the light before their eyes so that a heavenly deed might strengthen the faith of those who failed to grasp the words of the heavenly mystery.

We must understand the miracles of our Lord and Savior, dearly beloved, so as to believe that they have been truly done and that their meaning still signifies something else... We do not know the historical identity of the blind man, but we know whom he mystically denotes. The blind man is the human race. In our first parents it was driven from the joys of paradise, and ignorant of the brightness of the divine light, it suffered the darkness of its condemnation. But yet it is enlightened by presence of its Redeemer, to see already the joys of inward light by desire, and to direct the footsteps of its good works in the way of life.