Mark 8:22-25 NRSVue

²²They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. ²³He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” ²⁴And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” ²⁵Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again, and he looked intently, and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
This is a scene to relish step by step. Villagers lead the blind man to Jesus: /Please touch him!/ Jesus takes him by the hand, and takes him away from the crowd, and with an intimately personal gesture puts saliva on the blind eyes, and talks him through his recovery of sight. It is a tender, intense encounter, that the blind man must have treasured all his life. Contemplate it slowly.

Reflection
• The saliva brings partial healing to a blind man. He can see something but not very clearly. The touch of Jesus on his eyes brings total healing. Jesus is different to other healers; his healing is from within himself. The disciples may remember later that growth in the knowledge of Jesus comes bit by bit. We learn slowly. In prayer we learn the lessons of the heart of Jesus.

Reflection
The man who had been blind came to healing gradually and with effort. I look to see how God works in me in this gradual way.

Reflection
Many people in the gospels are brought to Jesus by others. I bring those who are in need, thinking of the good of those around me.