Breaking the Word

Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see." Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. (Lk 18:35-43)

A blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. Blindness and begging need not go together. It only shows that a blind man is dependent. He depends on others for his living. He needs to be helped out for survival. He is on the roadside because he has no home of his own or he has been thrown out of his house. Blindness, begging, and roadside seem to describe the situation of that person.

But he has heard about Jesus. The blind man knows that Jesus is the son of David. He calls him by that name at the second time. The blind man is a Jew or at least he knows the Jewish traditions. He also knows the role of the son of David. Son of David has a messianic role Jesus has come to fulfil that. And this was the reason that the blind man asks for mercy.

Jesus sees the faith of the person. Jesus also sees that the blind man is a human person and he needs to be respected like any other person. Jesus does not ignore him as the crowd does. Even amidst the noise of the crowd Jesus goes out to show his concern for a single individual. Jesus sees the person, he also sees the faith of the person and Jesus sees the person as an integral (complete, whole ) person and that is the outcome (miracle)  

"It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability. Then he went away…The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'…For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'  (Mt 25:14-30 )

This parable has got only one message and that is the reason why the whole story is centred on the one servant (useless servant).  This parable is also narrated towards the end of the story of the Gospel. Right through the Gospel we see Jesus criticising and condemning the Pharisees and the Scribes. The whole of chapter 23 of Matthew’s Gospel speaks about them.

The Pharisees and the Scribes have been given the Law of Moses and the have been given the Temple, the sign of God’s presence among them. The have been given wonderful promises about how God would bless them and through them how God would bless the other nations. They have buried these things in the ground. They did not use it for themselves and neither did they use it for others.

The master was coming back and he was to come back at the end of times (this is the story of the Israel and God and it is about Jesus and Jews). The other two servants are those who hear the call of Jesus and on that basis live their life accordingly. They are the ones who make the right use of the money.