The answer is that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of the seed of David. Listen to this prophecy from 2 Samuel: “I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
So, the title “Son of David” is more than a statement of physical genealogy. It is a Messianic title. When people referred to Jesus as the Son of David, they meant that He was the long-awaited Deliverer, through whom God would establish his eternal kingdom.Often, when Jesus is called by this title, it is by people seeking mercy or healing. The woman whose daughter was being tormented by a demon cries out: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David”, and today, we heard of the blind man, begging by the wayside. Calling Him “Lord” expressed their sense of His deity, dominion, and power, and calling Him “Son of David,” expressed their faith that He was the Messiah.
The Pharisees understood exactly what the people meant when they called Jesus “Son of David.” But, unlike those who cried out in faith, the Pharisees were so blinded by their own pride that they couldn’t see what the blind beggars could see.
Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind. He asks us: "What do you want Me to do for you?" We should respond: "I want to see".
Notice also how upon receiving his healing, the blind man follows Jesus and glorifies him. In our Psalm we replied, “Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.” The sight, the healing, the mercy we receive from Jesus, is good in itself, but mercy is given in order to transform us into agents of mercy, healing is given to make us into instruments of healing.
We come to the altar today, thanking God for the mercy and the healing we have received, and beseeching him all the more to continue to transform us, to make us his instruments, that we may follow him all the more faithfully, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That the spiritually blind of our world, may gaze upon Jesus, Son of God and Son of David, and believe.
That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life. We pray to the Lord.
For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, or for those who will die today: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special favor and consolation.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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