Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 31

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:18-43

The spiritual blindness precedes the beggar's physical blindness throughout this reading.

When Jesus names five of the ten commandments, the rich ruler (Matthew identifies him as young) seems to respond with hubris, "I have kept all these since my youth."

Sometimes people like to set themselves up to brag.  If he was rich as well as being in leadership, most in that day would assume that he has God's favor.  He may have been looking for praise from Jesus, but he found a challenge instead.  

As we saw earlier in this chapter, self-sufficiency becomes a trap.  It is not that it is a bad thing to take care of ourselves, but it does seem to get in the way of embracing grace rather than entitlement.  What does it mean to give away all our possessions?

It means that we have no choice but to rely on God.

Jesus is going to have to rely on God as he outlines his mission of suffering, death and resurrection.  But the disciples can't see it yet.  It will be resurrection that finally opens their eyes.

What keeps us from seeing?

This blind beggar correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah ("Son of David").  Jesus asks the man what he wants.  The beggar who is opposite in social status as the rich ruler wants to see.  Both of them were looking for something but the beggar's was more basic.  Jesus heals him and his sight is restored.  

Both were given the option for healing but only one took it.  Notice that the rich ruler was unable to follow even though invited.  The beggar gladly follows.

This makes us think about our own blind spots.  Sometimes we can self-identify them.  Sometimes, like the ruler, we know about them and choose to live with them.  But maybe, like the beggar, we can take them to Jesus and our sight can be restored.

Prayer for the day:

God, you know our weaknesses better than we do.  You call us regardless, but you also give us the freedom to live our lives.  May our offering to you be our weaknesses that you might transform them.  We recognize that we all need to cry out to you, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"  Amen.

Photo by samantha celera via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons License.