“And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, [thou] Son of David.” (Mt 20:31 AV)
Every time I read this I get a chuckle. These two men reacted to the crowd shushing them by getting louder. Not softer. Rather than apologize for their impertinence, they doubled down. I don’t think this was out of rebellion. I think it was out of desperation. These two men felt their blindness was cause enough to make as much noise as they could. They knew the crowd was growing louder, and if they didn’t yell the loudest, Jesus may never hear them. They did not quiet down as Jesus got closer. They couldn’t see that he was approaching. As far as they knew, Jesus was still a way off. They yelled as loud as they could until they got an answer. The greater the mercy needed, the louder the child of God will shout!
It is not easy serving as a chaplain in a hospital. There are wards that are pure joy. The maternity ward comes to mind. As the chaplain makes rounds, very rarely will he encounter a sad face or someone in severe pain. Hospice, although not a joyful place to be, is rather sedate. There may be sobbing or crying at the passing of a loved one, but for the most part, the souls assembled have resigned to the inevitable. They have come to terms with the end, and they are at peace with it. When a soul passes into eternity, there are many tears. Maybe even a bit of wailing. But for the most part, the mourners are at rest, knowing the suffering of their loved one is over. There are also those wards that are general care wards. Less serious situations and also by and large, quiet. But there are those wards set aside for severe cases. These cases are usually contained in a single wing or floor. These cases are not quiet at all. There is great pain and discomfort. There are constant calls for the nurse. They are doing all they can. They have administered the largest dose of relief that the doctor has prescribed. There is nothing more they can do. Only the toughest work on this floor. They guard themselves against over-empathetic hearts. They wouldn’t survive if they did not. As a general rule, the one who cries out the loudest is the one who gets the attention. There are moaners and there are screamers. There is everything in between. As a Chaplain, relief is what we are supposed to offer. We try our best. The more someone cries out, the greater our desire to help.
These two men cried out because they had a great need. Their need was for mercy. For them, mercy would come by way of gaining their sight. But there are other reasons someone might need mercy. There is strength to endure a trial of faith. Only the mercy of God can get us through. There are doubts and fears. Only the mercy of God can reassure us. There is confusion of mind. Only the mercy of God can show us the truth. There is ambition yet unrealized. Only the mercy of God can give us a calling in life. There is loneliness. Only the mercy of God can fill that vacant heart. There is concern for others. Only the mercy of God can help. There are unspoken prayer requests. Only the mercy of God knows what they are and what we need. Most of all, there are sins that need forgiveness. Only the mercy of God can provide the peace that comes from divine forgiveness. The point is, the greater the need for mercy, the louder or more persistent our prayers. Perhaps our prayer life is anemic because we do not realize our great our need for mercy truly is. Don’t worry, we will learn this soon enough. When we do, we are to cry loudly and persistently until the Son of God approaches!
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