What do you want me to do for you? Sir, please let me see. AsJesus continues on his final descent into Jerusalem, he becomes more of a teacher and less of a wonderworker. It is important for him that he makes this switch because this particular phase of Jesus’ mission is characterized by the gradual unfolding (revelation) of the mystery of his identity. Jerusalem is the place where Jesus is going to perform his last act, and for that act to produce its desired effect, the people have to finally come to know the identity of Jesus. The healing of the blind man that we read about in today’s Gospel passage, though itself a miracle (act), takes place at this particular point because of the central role it plays in the on-going revelation of Jesus’ identity. It is not a mere coincidence that the healing follows the third prediction of Jesus’ passion. Jesus’ disciples were having a hard time coming to terms with what Jesus was telling them. This is not what had signed up for. To fully comprehend what Jesus was talking about, they needed to have the eyes of their minds opened. Like this blind beggar, all they needed to do was to request Jesus to open their eyes.
One can only imagine what might have been going on in the mind of the blind beggar when Jesus asked him what he wanted from him. He had definitely heard all the good things that Jesus had done to the sick, the poor, and the hungry. It must have not been easy for him, therefore, when Jesus asked him what he wanted. He was hungry, he was poor, he had no identity/status, and he had no place to call home. A series of ideas must have played in his mind: ‘
Should I ask for food to satisfy my hunger? Should I ask for wealth so that I will never have to beg again? Should I ask for revenge for the many people who have mistreated me in life?’The list must have been endless. And of all the many things he might have wanted Jesus to give him, he chose one: that he may see. Even though he would still have to work for his food, even though he would still have to work hard to build himself a home, all that he wanted from Jesus was the ability to see.
It takes an individual who has lost his sight to appreciate the gift of sight. The individual in our story seems to have been born blind, but he nonetheless knew what the gift of sight does to an individual. With his sight, he was able to see the beauty of the world and join others in praising God for the wonder of creation. With the gift of sight, he was able to make sense of the thanksgiving psalms he might have been taught from childhood to recite.