The Gospel seems at first to be just the healing of two blind men who turn to Jesus for help. Before He heals them, He asks them if they have trust and confidence that He can truly give them back their sight. They say they do have that trust and confidence. They are then told not to say anything to anyone about it. Jesus does not want to be known simply as a wonder worker.

The deeper meaning, however, of the story is indicated by the First Reading from Isaiah. Here the prophet says, "The deaf, that day, will hear the words of a book . . . and, after shadow and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see." In addition "the lowly will rejoice in the Lord . . . and the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel".

This is the meaning of Jesus' life. He has come to put an end to the suffering of the poor and marginalised. Even more, He has come to bring hearing to those who cannot hear and vision to those who cannot see. And what they will get is not just physical sight but a true vision, the ability to see the world, to see God and themselves in the way God sees. It is no wonder that, after having been given their sight, the men could not resist proclaiming it everywhere. That is what happens when we see things as Jesus sees them. We can't keep it to ourselves.