As we enter the second day of Quinquagesima Week, the liturgy invites us to meditate on two profound passages: St. Paul’s hymn to charity (1 Cor. 13:1-13) and Christ’s healing of the blind man near Jericho (Luke 18:31-43). These readings, set before the great ascent to Lent, illuminate the essence of the Christian journey—charity as the highest virtue and faith as the means to spiritual sight.
Love as the Essence of the Christian Life
St. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13 form one of the most exalted passages in Scripture, where he proclaims that without charity (ἀγάπη, agape), all other gifts—be it eloquence, knowledge, faith, or self-sacrifice—are worthless. St. John Chrysostom, in his Homilies on First Corinthians, explains:
“If love be absent, all other gifts are of no great profit. For many have performed wonders, and yet, because they had not love, perished.” (Homily 34)
Love is not merely an emotion but the very foundation of the Christian life. It is patient, kind, humble, and enduring. St. Augustine teaches that true charity is directed toward God and our neighbor:
“Love, and do what you will: whether you hold your peace, through love hold your peace; whether you cry out, through love cry out; whether you correct, through love correct; whether you spare, through love do you spare.” (Sermon 190)
The Epistle reminds us that all earthly things will pass—prophecies will cease, knowledge will fade—but love endures forever. This is a call to examine our hearts as we approach Lent: Are we growing in charity, or are we merely clinging to outward religious observances?
From Blindness to Sight: Faith and the Journey to Jerusalem
In Luke’s Gospel, Christ takes His disciples aside and prophesies His Passion:
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man.” (Luke 18:31)
Yet, they do not understand. Their spiritual sight is dimmed, just as the blind man near Jericho is physically unable to see. The Fathers of the Church often interpret this blindness as a symbol of the fallen human condition. St. Bede the Venerable writes:
“The blind man sitting by the way signifies the human race deprived of the light of divine knowledge, but enlightened by the mercy of the Lord.” (Homilies on the Gospels, II.26)
This blind man, upon hearing that Jesus is passing by, cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” His persistence is remarkable—despite being rebuked by the crowd, he calls out even louder. St. Augustine sees in this a model for prayer:
“Let us then also cry out, not with our lips, but with our life, not with words, but with works.” (Sermon 88)
When Christ asks him, “What wilt thou that I do to thee?”, the man replies simply, “Lord, that I may see.” This should be the cry of every Christian, especially as we prepare for Lent. Do we recognize our own spiritual blindness? Do we ask Christ to open our eyes to His truth?
From Jericho to Jerusalem: The Path of Charity
This Gospel passage is deeply fitting for Quinquagesima Monday. We, like the blind man, stand at the threshold of a great journey. Just as Christ is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die, we prepare to enter the penitential season of Lent. Charity is the key that will guide us through this time of purification.
St. Gregory the Great warns that knowledge without charity is dangerous:
“He who has the gift of prophecy but lacks charity, though he knows what is to come, is blind to his own ruin.” (Moralium in Job, XXVII.11)
As we reflect on these readings, we should ask ourselves:
- Do I live with true charity, or am I attached to spiritual vanity?
- Do I cry out to Christ, recognizing my blindness and begging for His mercy?
- Am I ready to follow Christ on the road to Jerusalem, embracing the cross with love?
Let us imitate the blind man’s faith, crying out with confidence, “Lord, that I may see!”—that we may see the path of love, the way of the cross, and the glory of the resurrection that lies ahead.
Conclusion: The Threefold Preparation for Lent
The Church, in her wisdom, gives us these readings in Quinquagesima to prepare our hearts for Lent. The message is clear:
- Faith – Like the blind man, we must acknowledge our need for Christ.
- Hope – We trust that Christ will open our eyes and lead us.
- Charity – The highest virtue, which alone remains when all else passes away.
As we stand on the threshold of Lent, let us resolve to deepen our charity, strengthen our faith, and cry out for the divine light that alone can lead us to Easter glory.
“And immediately he saw, and followed Him, glorifying God.” (Luke 18:43)