Pope Francis reflects on healing of blind man

June 15, 2016

Continuing his series of Wednesday catecheses on mercy, Pope Francis devoted his June 15 general audience to Christ’s healing of a blind man.

“We now consider Jesus’ miracle of restoring sight to a blind man on the way to Jericho (Lk. 18:35-43),” Pope Francis told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, according to the official English-language synthesis of his remarks. “The blind man, forced to beg for a living, can represent all those disadvantaged persons who, even today, find themselves on the periphery of our societies.”

“The prosperous city of Jericho, for its part, evokes the conquest of the Promised Land and Moses’ stern warning that, once settled, God’s People were not to harden their hearts or be blind to the presence of those in need (cf. Dt. 15),” he continued.

The Pope added:

Unlike the crowd, Jesus does not ignore the blind man or try to silence his cries. He stops, turns the eyes of all to the blind man, and, acknowledging his faith, restores his sight. Saint Luke tells us that the man, now healed, became a disciple of Jesus …

The crowd too now sees; their eyes are opened to the meaning of this encounter of mercy, and they give praise to God. During this Jubilee of Mercy may we too open our eyes and hearts to God’s love for the poor and to the gift of healing that he offers to all who turn to him in faith.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Francis General Audience 2016.06.15 (YouTube Vatican)
• L’Udienza Generale, 15.06.2016 (Holy See Press Office)