Saturday, December 2, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading
Matthew 20:29–34

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him. (NRSV)

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Reflection

This is one of my favorite gospel stories, because it shows that Jesus is curious. Jesus, the Great Healer, does not presume to know exactly what the two people hollering at him need — or even want — from him. So he asks.

It seems such a simple move to make when we find ourselves in a position to help someone in need, to ask what they want. Isn’t it usually obvious? People need food. People need shelter. They need coats for the winter and medicine for their children. So why waste time asking what our neighbors want instead of moving immediately to provide what they clearly lack?

Jesus knows that we are more than the deficiency we present to the world. When we find ourselves in a position of needing help from others, we want more than for our need to be addressed, don’t we? We want to be seen and heard, to be known in human connection not only for our need but also for our gifts, what we have to offer. This is the insight behind “asset based community development,” developed by Northwestern University’s John Kretzman and John McKnight in the early ’90s, whereby communities are engaged first on the basis of their strengths, and not on their deficiencies, because, in one person’s phrasing, “If we ask people to look for deficits, they will usually find them.”

Jesus doesn’t look for deficits, and he looks past the deficits in ourselves and our neighbors that tend to monopolize our attention. Which means we have work to do. The two people calling out for mercy are invited to be Jesus’ partners in their own healing; they are called upon to answer for what they actually want (how hard it is to clearly state the thing we want sometimes!). Only as they can say what they want do they find healing.

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Prayer
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us. We want to be healed and restored. Give us sight to see our neighbors created in your image and to serve and help them with your compassion, humility, and humanity. Amen.

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Written by Rocky Supinger, Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry and Worship

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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