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THE
BLIND MAN
The story of a man who was blind
but who could see better than many who see; for without a guide nor
sight, he strove to go to Christ, even if he was rebuked by the very
disciples who surrounded Christ.
This is the sign of an enduring
soul. . .by the very things that hinder, it is borne up. But
Christ allowed His own disciples to rebuke the blind man so that his
virtue of earnestness might the more appear and, therefore, the
reason for his cure be shown to be deserving. Because of the
blind man's earnestness, Christ did not ask him, "Do you
believe?" for his cry and his coming to him was already a
manifestation of faith.
Even if we are the vilest of men
but if we approach God with earnestness, even merely by ourselves,
we shall effect whatsoever we ask. The blind man had no
apostle to plead for him but rather apostles to silence him; he had
no guileless life to show. . .he only had earnestness.
Even if God defers the gift, even
if many are preventing us, let us not desist from asking. It
is in this earnestness that we shall win to see God. Look at
the blind man; neither poverty, nor blindness, nor being rebuked,
nor anything else impeded his earnestness. Such is the nature
of a fervent and toiling soul.
In Scriptures, it is usual for
Christ first to make manifest the virtue of those He is healing, and
then apply the cure. This way, He shows that the gift was
received worthily. This He first did to the Canaanite woman,
the centurion and the woman with the issue of blood.
Christ always took care to proclaim
the virtue of the person that came to Him. This alone is the
reason for their cure. Yes, a cure is an act of mercy and
grace; but both seek the worthy.
Was the blind man worthy?
Yes, firstly, in that he was earnest and, secondly, from the fact
that when he had received the gift, he did not hasten away as many
do, being ungrateful after the benefits. He was persevering
before the gift and grateful after the gift, for Scriptures has it,
". . .he followed Him."
St. John Chrysostom
(02-01-05)
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