What do you want me to do for you? Sir, please let me see. As Jesus 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 account of the healing of the blind man about which we read 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. The healing took place as a ‘teaching’ moment/act. It is not a mere coincidence that the healing followed the third prediction of Jesus’ passion. Jesus’ disciples were having a difficult time coming to terms with what Jesus was telling them. To fully comprehend what Jesus was talking about (that the Son of Man was going to be handed over to mere mortals for prosecution), 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 the eyes of their minds. 
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, the hungry, and the disenfranchised. It must have not been easy for him, therefore, when Jesus asked him what he wanted. The list was long: 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. It was the one thing that he needed the most. 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 the Gospel story seems to have been born blind, but he nonetheless knew what the gift of sight does to an individual. With his sight, he would 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 would be able to make sense of the thanksgiving psalms he might have been taught from childhood to recite. With the gift of sight, he would be able to witness to the in-breaking of the kingdom of God. Just like he did, may we be able to approach Jesus with the request to have him open our eyes so that we can be able to see the wonders that God is doing in our lives. Together with the apostles, may we approach Jesus and request him to open the eyes of our minds so that we may be able to decipher and understand the mysteries of God that has been revealed to us.