Luke 18:31-43: a reflection

31He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed. 32For he will be delivered up to the Gentiles, will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit on. 33They will scourge and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.” 34They understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they didn’t understand the things that were said. 35As he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging. 36Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant. 37They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38He cried out, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” 39Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” 40Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him. When he had come near, he asked him, 41“What do you want me to do?” He said, “Lord, that I may see again.” 42Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.” 43Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, praised God.

As Jesus passes through Jericho, a blind man sitting by the road hears that he is near and begins to cry out, Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me! Those in the crowd rebuke him, telling him to be quiet; but he will not be silenced. He cried out all the more, You son of David, have mercy on me! His persistence, undeterred by those who tried to hush him, brought him to Jesus, who stopped, called him, and gave him his sight. The blind man would not let the crowd's discouragement silence his cry; he cried all the more, and Jesus heard him.

Notice the blind man's persistence, undeterred by those who tried to silence him. He had one chance, as Jesus passed by, and the crowd tried to hush him, to keep him from bothering the teacher. But he would not be silenced; the more they rebuked him, the more he cried out. His persistence was not deterred by their discouragement; he kept crying for mercy until Jesus heard and stopped. Had he let the crowd silence him, he would have missed his moment; but he cried all the more, and his persistent faith brought him to Christ. He refused to let discouragement quiet his cry for mercy.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are to persist in crying out to Christ for mercy, undeterred by discouragement. When we come to Christ, there are voices, within and without, that would silence us, tell us not to bother, discourage our crying out; but the blind man cried all the more when they tried to hush him, and Jesus heard him. Persistence in coming to Christ, undeterred by discouragement, is not rebuffed but rewarded. Do not let discouragement, from others or from within, silence your crying out to Christ for mercy; cry all the more, as the blind man did when the crowd tried to hush him. Persist in crying out to Christ for mercy, undeterred by whatever would silence or discourage you, as the blind man cried all the more and Jesus heard him; for Christ hears the persistent cry of faith, and those who will not let discouragement silence their crying out to him are not rebuffed but received.

Lord Jesus, as you pass through Jericho, a blind man sitting by the road hears that you are near and begins to cry out, Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me! Those in the crowd rebuke him, telling him to be quiet; but he will not be silenced. He cried out all the more, you son of David, have mercy on me! His persistence, undeterred by those who tried to hush him, brought him to you, who stopped, called him, and gave him his sight. Show me the blind man's persistence, undeterred by those who tried to silence him. He had one chance, as you passed by, and the crowd tried to hush him. But he would not be silenced; the more they rebuked him, the more he cried out. His persistence was not deterred by their discouragement; he kept crying for mercy until you heard and stopped. Had he let the crowd silence him, he would have missed his moment; but he cried all the more, and his persistent faith brought him to you. Take that to my heart, for I too am to persist in crying out to you for mercy, undeterred by discouragement. When I come to you, there are voices, within and without, that would silence me, tell me not to bother, discourage my crying out; but the blind man cried all the more when they tried to hush him, and you heard him. Keep me from letting discouragement, from others or from within, silence my crying out to you for mercy; help me cry all the more, Lord, as the blind man did when the crowd tried to hush him. Help me persist in crying out to you for mercy, undeterred by whatever would silence or discourage me.