Eyes Opened

As Jesus 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. (Luke 18:35-43)

We blind must see.  Does our faith save us, as Jesus claimed?  Well, it all depends.  Do we really follow him!?  Do we open our eyes and see his path on which we must walk?  

Too many of us stray from his path.  We get confused and even lost.  The path isn’t always clearly marked or someone or group has ripped down the sign to replace it with one of their own choosing.  Current escalating anti-Semitic and Islamophobic behavior in the United States is an example.  Jesus’s path of peace and understanding has been re-signed with intolerance, hate, and prejudice. 

“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on us stupid people!”  Why would Jesus have pity on us when we choose to act out of cowardice, fear, and ignorance – when we choose to be blind to the consequences of our purposefully losing our way and deciding to be unjust, hypocritical, cruel, and evil.

Evil has a way of covering our paths in heavy mist or fog.  If we are not extremely careful that clouded path will lead us over a cliff.

Deacon David Pierce