Monday November 17th: Encounter, liberation and transformation

“Jesus asked the blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Luke 18:35-43

This story is about encounter, liberation, and transformation. The beggar is not just physically blind but marginalized—sitting by the roadside, dependent on alms, silenced by the crowd. Like many in our society today, in our parishes – marginalised, systematically excluded, left behind. His cry, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” is an act of “radical agency.” He refuses to be silenced, asserting his voice and right to be seen – like Rosa Parks, Greta Thunberg, Tubal Uriah Butler, LGBTQI+ activists.
This is the first step in authentic development: the marginalized empowered to name their reality and demand change. Jesus’ response is transformative, not offering alms but full restoration. “What do you want me to do for you?” dignifies the man, making him an active participant in his own liberation. Healing is immediate, but development is holistic: sight restored, he joins the community, “following Jesus, glorifying and praising God.”
True development is not about charity alone but about restoring sight—both physical and social—so that individuals can see their own God-given potential and walk in dignity alongside their community. We are Called to this path of Mission.