December 2, 2018
Luke 18:35-43 - As [Jesus] drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. (RSV)
Come! Receive the Light - As Jesus approached the blind man the blind man cried out and said, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The beggar’s hand was stretched out to receive a penny from man but found himself receiving the gift of God. “Son of David, have mercy on me!” He understood that Jesus was the Son of David, the David who had spared the blind and the lame of the Jebusites (2 Sam 5:6-8). How did Jesus answer him? He said, “Receive your sight; you faith has made you well.” The blind man’s faith first gave him life and then gave him bodily sight. (St. Ephrem the Syrian)
The icon is of the Holy Prophet Habakkuk. About 650 B.C. he foresaw the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, the Babylonian Captivity and the later return of the captives to their native land. The Church celebrates his memory on December 2nd.
