Saturday

“Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’”—Luke 18:38

Anyone who’s ever been within earshot of a child under five will be well acquainted with the power of persistence.  “Daddy?  Daddy.  Dad-dy?!  DADDY!!!!”—and so it goes, until the offending parent finally summons the enthusiasm to respond to and acknowledge whatever the child may be doing. 

In much the same way, the blind beggar is making something of a nuisance of himself.  Shushing does no good; he keeps screaming for Jesus to pay attention to him, to heed his cries.  He may well have been desperate—a condition that can cause us all to lose our sense of decorum.  More deeply and profoundly, however, the blind beggar’s pleas are an indication of trust.  He believes Jesus will hear him and offer mercy with the same unquestioning trust that children have in their parents.

We’d do well to learn from the blind beggar.  We all are blind in our own ways, but in our prayers we can cry out in the sure knowledge God will hear us, too. -- LG

Lord, please grant me the faith of the blind beggar.  Just as you heard him, so I know you will hear me.  Help my heart to truly know what my head might understand.  Amen.