The Need to be Noticed

 Social media has turned us into a society of exhibitionists.  We seem to think that virtually ANYTHING that we do, say, think, eat, visit will be of interest to others.  The worst part of this is that we actually believe that OUR information shared with literally the rest of the world is somehow more interesting than similar information shared by others.  We can’t wait to post things about us.  But when that computer chime goes off saying that someone else wants to share their story with us, we’re often annoyed, ignoring their posts as tedious and boring.

But there are righteous instances of seeking to be noticed.  The Psalmist records, “In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me.” (Ps 120:1)  And again, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (Ps 34:17)

But we need not understand our pleas before God to necessarily be shouts.  God knows the heart as well.  “And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a still small voice.” (1Kings 19:11-12)

So you see, we can be noticed by that which is forceful.  But the forcefulness of our plea is that which is necessary to gain God’s attention.

In short, prayer needs to be fervent.  What does this mean?

fer’-vent: adj   1) showing great emotion or zeal; ardent;  2) extremely hot; glowing;  3) boiling; burning.

It is true that the blind man in today’s Gospel reading (Luke 18:35-43) showed a fervent prayer in the form of his impassioned cry, which is one source of our use of the Jesus Prayer—”Son of David, have mercy on me!”  The reference to David is a clear indication of the blind man’s recognition of Jesus as King of Israel.

But I submit to you that the blind man’s prayer from today is no more fervent than the prayer of the woman with the issue of blood, whose lips uttered nothing!  What was her “prayer”?  What was her cry out for attention?  It was simply the faith that recognizes the authority in Jesus to heal, a faith so intense and focused that it need not trouble the Master even for a ‘formal’ recognition.  When her touch reached the hem of our Lord’s garment, she knew instantly that she had been noticed, her fervent prayer had been recognized, for she knew the pain and suffering that her hemorrhaging brought her, and she knew upon the instance of that touch that this pain had ceased.

In no less of a miraculous way, today’s blind man receives his sight knowing that Jesus has ‘noticed’ him, for it is Jesus Himself Who asks, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 

The sight that Jesus restores is twofold.  Jesus restores the man’s physical vision.  But He also brings to him spiritual sight, for now, he becomes a follower of Jesus.  He now moves with the Lord, giving glory to God!