Gospel in Art: As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man sat begging

The Healing of the Blind Man in Jericho by the Master of the Manna,1470, Flanders © Museum Catharijneconvent, Netherlands

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17 November 2025
Luke 18:35-43

At that time: As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he enquired what this meant. They told him, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.' And he cried out, '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 recover my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Reflection on the painting

In today's Gospel, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, passing through Jericho. His destination was set toward the city that killed so many prophets and that would now also kill the very Son of God. Yet Jesus walked there with great resolve, knowing how his earthly days would end there. Yet even though entirely focussed on his destination, when a blind beggar cries out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me," he stops. Others try to silence the man, but Jesus gives him his full attention. That single pause changes everything. The beggar's prayer of petition "Let me see again" turns into a prayer of praise that rippled through the whole crowd and still through to us two thousand years later.

Jesus teaches us that the journey matters as much as the destination. He never rushed past the present moment; he met grace wherever it appeared. We, too, can become so fixated on our goals (to get a new home, a promotion, any plans) that we miss the encounters God places along the way. The so-called interruptions of our day may actually be divine invitations. Jesus shows us how to live attentively: to stop, to listen, to respond. The road to Jerusalem-and to Heaven-is walked one merciful pause at a time.

Our anonymous panel titled The Healing of the Blind Man in Jericho, painted circa 1470, beautifully visualises today's Gospel reading set outside the city walls of Jericho. A clear path, beginning with us the viewer and leading directly into the city, guides our eyes between groups of beggars and the sick lining the roadside. Near the foreground, Jesus stands immediately before us, turning to perform today's miracle of healing the blind man, while another beggar has already been brought forward; others gather expectantly around Him. The city wall of Jericho looms in the background. What makes this panel particularly striking is how it draws us into the "on-the-way" nature of the miracle. The road is busy, the afflicted are visible, and yet the decisive moment unfolds in the encounter with Christ.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-18-35-43-2025/
and
Video: The Art of Remembrance - From The Monuments Men to The Last Post: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/53644