men who were breakers of the law,
and they seduced many people, saying:
“Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us;
since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.”
We can't let the crowds dictate our behavior. The Gentiles all around us might seem very successful. They might seem healthy, wealthy and even wise after a fashion. It can begin innocently enough. Often, we start off pursuing the same entertainment as them. A gymnasium seems harmless enough. Yet if we become too impressed with their way of life it becomes dangerous. We imitate it in more and more of its aspects. Our own faith begins to embarrass us. We are like the Jews who "covered over the mark of their circumcision" so that they could blend in. We abandon our "particular customs". We begin sacrificing to the idols of those who surround us. We profane the Sabbath. Before we know it there is a horrible abomination at the center of our hearts on the throne which is meant for God. In the early stages, this is all because of undue attention we give to the things of the Gentiles. We allow lesser things, not necessarily bad, to pull us away from those things which should be our priorities, those things which can give us life.
Maybe we have been blinded by the culture around us and are having trouble finding a good path again. We needn't fear because Jesus is passing by. He is full of love. Healing is in his hand. The one thing we need to ensure is that the crowd doesn't keep us from him.
he 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!”
Let us keep calling all the more to Jesus. None of us have priorities which are in perfect order. We all need Jesus to help us to see again. But the culture is all too willing to provide compelling alternatives. Indeed it seems almost designed to distract us and keep us away. But we are free to keep calling, no matter what the world says.
“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.”
Suddenly we see clearly. We realize how we only find life here in Jesus. We realize that no one else has ever saved us. We glimpse briefly how vapid, empty, and profitless are those things which distract us, those things which charm us most. We follow in the footsteps of the blind man given his sight.
He immediately received his sight
and followed him, giving glory to God.
We are moved, not with indignation, but with compassion for the Gentiles around us. We see how easy it is to be ensnared. We proclaim with words and with lives that the LORD is the only alternative to this hopeless life.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
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