Quinquagesima Sunday: "Lord, that I may see."

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Painting: The Healing of the Blind of Jericho by Nicolas Poussin, 1650.


Gospel Reading: Luke 18:31-43

It is not by chance that in today's Gospel, immediately after the prediction of the Passion, we find the healing of the blind man of Jericho. Today's Gospel sets before us two sorts of blindness: one of the bodily eyes, the other of the mind.

The human eye has not sufficient light to comprehend the value of the Cross; we are always somewhat blind when faced with the mystery of suffering. We need a new light, the light of the Holy Spirit -- it was not until after the descent of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles fully understood the meaning of the Passion. Then, instead of being scandalized, they considered it the greatest honor to follow and to preach Christ Crucified.

The apostles could not understand because they were blinded by the delusions of their nation. How many are similarly blinded now by their delusions, vain fancies, superficial philosophies, and false prophets of our time? As the apostles could not imagine a suffering Messiah, so the moderns will not hear of restraint or self-denial; they will have the fullness of life, as they call it, unrestrained pleasure, gratification of every craving, natural and unnatural.

Let us imitate the blind beggar. Let us ask, not to be exempt from suffering, but to be enlightened as to its value. Let us not permit Christ to pass us by, but let us call on Him and importune until He returns to us and hears our prayer: "Lord, grant that we may see!" The supernatural light which we seek from the Lord will give us the strength to follow Him and to carry our cross as He did.

Introit: Psalm 30


- Fr. Gabriel




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