Jesus heals on the Jericho road a blind man who believes in Him and who, because of the salvation received, begins to follow Him glorifying God.
Blindness is a theme revisited by Francis on several occasions.
The Minim knew what blindness of body and soul was, having experienced it spiritually and physically.
The Name of Jesus on the lips of the Poverello had often generated healings, restoring sight.
In the Sources we find:
"In the convent of the Friars Minor in Naples there was a friar, named Robert, who had been blind for many years.
At a certain point a fleshy growth formed over his eyes, which prevented him from moving and lifting his eyelids.
One day, many foreign friars gathered in that convent, on their way to different parts of the world.
Well, our blessed father Francis, a mirror of holy obedience, as if to encourage them on their journey with the novelty of a miracle, wanted to heal that friar, in their presence, in the following way.
This friar Robert was deathly ill, so much so that by now his soul had been commended to him; when behold, the blessed Father appeared to him, in the company of three friars, models of all holiness: Saint Anthony, friar Augustine and friar James of Assisi, who now, after death, accompanied him attentively, just as they had followed him perfectly during his life.
Taking a knife, St Francis cut away his superfluous flesh, restoring his sight and snatching him from the jaws of death; then he said to him:
"O son Robert, the grace I have given you is a sign for the brothers who set out for distant peoples: it is the sign that I will precede and guide them on their journey. Let them depart with joy and fulfil with a ready heart the obedience they have received!" (FF 1299).
The Canticle written by St Francis - Canticle of Brother Sun - is a hymn to life and light at a time when he had lost his sight and had been healed in his heart.
After his conversion, Francis saw again and became light for all, a beacon in the night of time.
Christ restored sight through him.
"And Jesus said to him, 'Lift up your eyes! Your Faith has saved you'" (Lk 18:42).
Monday, 33rd wk. in O.T. (Lk 18:35-43)