The Seeing Blind man & the Blind Seeing Man

October 2025

This passage from Luke's gospel (18:35-19:10) is contrasting two very different types of seeing and two very different types of men.

Firstly, we have the unnamed, unemployed, poor, blind beggar man, who could see spiritually but not physically (until Jesus healed his physical sight). And secondly, we have Zacchaeus, the named, small in stature rich man, who was employed by the Roman Revenue & Customs Department and who could see physically but was spiritually blind (until Jesus opened his spiritual eyes).

This reading asks us, I believe, three very personal questions: Who do we think Jesus is? What do we want him to do for us? Why did Jesus come to earth?

May God open our eyes as we look at this and heal us from being partially sighted.