Matthew 20:25-34: a reflection

25But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 27Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, 28even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 29As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 31The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, “Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!” 32Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33They told him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” 34Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.

As Jesus leaves Jericho, two blind men by the road hear that he is passing and cry out, Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David! The crowd rebukes them, telling them to be quiet; but they cry out all the more, Lord, have mercy on us! They will not be silenced. And Jesus stops, calls them, asks what they want, and, moved with compassion, heals them. Their persistent crying to Christ for mercy, undeterred by those who would silence them, brought them to him and was answered.

Notice the persistence of the blind men, undeterred by those who tried to silence them. They cried out to Jesus for mercy; and when the crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet, they did not fall silent, but cried out all the more. They would not let the discouragement of others keep them from crying to Christ; they persisted, undeterred, until Jesus heard and stopped. Their crying for mercy was persistent and would not be silenced; and Christ heard them, and had mercy. The discouragement of the crowd did not turn them away from Christ; they cried out all the more.

That persistence is worth taking to heart, for we too can be discouraged from crying to Christ for mercy, and must not let ourselves be silenced. When we cry to Christ for mercy, we can meet discouragement, from others or from within, that would silence us, telling us to be quiet, that it is no use; but the blind men cried out all the more, undeterred. Do not let discouragement silence your crying to Christ for mercy; cry out all the more, as the blind men did when the crowd rebuked them. When something would discourage you from crying to Christ, whether the voices of others or your own doubt, persist, crying out all the more for his mercy, as the blind men would not be silenced and were heard; for Christ hears the persistent cry for mercy, and is moved with compassion, as he heard the blind men who cried out all the more and had mercy on them.

Lord Jesus, as you leave Jericho, two blind men by the road hear that you are passing and cry out, Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David! The crowd rebukes them, telling them to be quiet; but they cry out all the more, Lord, have mercy on us! They will not be silenced. And you stop, call them, ask what they want, and, moved with compassion, heal them. Their persistent crying to you for mercy, undeterred by those who would silence them, brought them to you and was answered. Show me the persistence of the blind men, undeterred by those who tried to silence them. They cried out to you for mercy; and when the crowd rebuked them, they did not fall silent, but cried out all the more. They would not let the discouragement of others keep them from crying to you; they persisted until you heard and stopped. The discouragement of the crowd did not turn them away from you. Take that persistence to my heart, for I too can be discouraged from crying to you for mercy, and must not let myself be silenced. When I cry to you for mercy, I can meet discouragement, from others or from within, that would silence me, telling me it is no use; but the blind men cried out all the more. Keep me from letting discouragement silence my crying to you for mercy; help me cry out all the more, Lord, as the blind men did. When something would discourage me from crying to you, help me persist, crying out all the more for your mercy, knowing that you hear the persistent cry and are moved with compassion.