The blind beggar never saw it coming! No pun intended! I mean it quite literally.

He was no doubt hoping and praying that someday he would be able to see. But did he ever think that it would actually happen that day. .. and in an encounter with Jesus? (Luke 18:35)

The Story

I doubt whether he woke up on the day of his encounter expecting that would be the day. In Luke’s account, hearing the noise, he asked what the commotion was about. Had he heard of Jesus? Did he see him performing a miracle with his mind’s eye?

The crowd of naysayers tried to silence him. They only had their own interests in sight. They never even saw this blind beggar until, in his need, he cried out. When they tried to silence him, he cried out the louder!

Jesus asks… “What do you want me to do for you?” In his blindness, he blurted out… “Lord, let me see again.” “Immediately he regained his sight.” And immediately he praised  God for the gift of sight. Even the naysayers began to praise God.

Pentecost -“Let me see again!”

I never saw any connection between the life-changing experience of a blind beggar being given his sight and the Pentecost gift of Jesus’ spirit under the appearances of tongues of fire.

Now I can’t “unsee” it.

I start by identifying with the crowd focused on their own needs.

They did not see the needs of “the other”.

In my blindness, I do not see the needs of my suffering sisters and brothers. I often am deaf to their cries… especially if they are not near me, look, or think like me. When I do hear them, I want their shouts to be soft, respectful whispers which I can listen to when I get around to it.

“Gathering in one place”

The disciples were gathered in one place focused on their own fears and questions. Jesus had offered them the gift of sight. Now, confused, they were sitting on the side of the road in their darkness.

They wanted to believe. But did not know that they would be given Jesus’ own spirit to see as he saw. They never saw the gift of fire coming even though he told them he would always be with them.

Did they expect that would be the day that would radically change their life, their way of seeing, and thinking? They were too afraid of the powers of the world.

The Pentecost gift

That Pentecost day Jesus gave the gift of his spirit. His spirit was impressed on “the fleshy tablets of their hearts.” Jesus saw their need, and heard their cries.

This Pentecost I realize I need to cry out in my blindness. “I want to see”.

Yes, I want to see the way Jesus saw, hear the cries he heard, and reach out as he did.

Gathering in our synodal places

I hope I am not the only one who sees a further connection with the three-year journey Pope Francis invites us all to walk together.

The world is too big to gather in any one room… or stadium. But our doubts and fears are very similar to those of the disciples at Pentecost.

Pope Francis is asking each of us to come near so we may listen to and be filled with Jesus’ own Spirit.

Jesus’ own spirit will allow us to truly ”see” one another. Together, we will see and understand the day-to-day implications of living in God’s Kingdom.

Do we recognize our blindness, … really want to see as Jesus sees?

Click below for an early audio version of this Vincentian Mindwalk.