Let me see.
From today’s Scripture: “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.’”–Luke 18:40-43
I once had the privilege of volunteering for a year with a nonprofit serving the blind and visually impaired. Each student had a different experience of what it was like to live as a person with a visual impairment in a largely sighted world. At one point, we discussed references to visual impairments in the Scripture. With this Scripture, the students resonated with Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Jesus didn’t assume what the man wanted. He respected the man’s dignity and encouraged him to ask for what would be most helpful to him. Jesus rewarded the man’s willingness to take a risk and seek His help, even in the midst of resistance from the sighted people around him.
While the man asked for physical sight, we are each encouraged to ask for what we need, whether we are physically or figuratively blind in some way. We are assured that Jesus will respect our dignity and agency when seeking His help, and will reward us for taking the risk of an act of faith.
Let us pray: Dear Jesus, give me the courage to step out in faith as the blind man does in today’s Gospel passage.
Today’s author is Julia Sauter, a member of Glenmary’s Development team. She holds an M.A. in theology from Santa Clara University.
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