ISB ~ Luke 18 v35

Jericho:About 17 miles northeast of Jerusalem. The city was renovated by Herod the Great nearly a mile from the OT city of Jericho, which was uninhabited by the first century (Josh 6:26).

a blind man:Mark calls him “Bartimaeus” (Mk 10:46). Ironically, this blind beggar saw Jesus’ identity more clearly than the crowds who rebuked him (18:39).

• Morally (St. Augustine, Sermo 351): the crowd signifies fellow believers who walk with Christ and yet sometimes hinder our progress in the spiritual life. We must strive, like the blind man, to overcome their discouragement and make growth in virtue our spoken prayer to Christ.