"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 18:35-43.

Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging,
and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening.
They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"
The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!"
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
What do you want me to do for you? He replied, "Lord, please let me see."
Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you."
He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Commentary of the day
Saint Gregory the Great (c.540-604), Pope, Doctor of the Church
Homily 13 on the Gospel (©Cistercian publications)

"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

We must note that the blind man was enlightened while Jesus is said to be drawing near Jericho. Jericho is interpreted 'moon'. In sacred scripture the moon symbolizes the weakness of our body, since as it wanes in its monthly changes it depicts the weakness of our mortal nature. The blind man came to the light when our Creator drew near Jericho, because when a divine person undertook the weakness of body the human race recovered the light that it had lost. God suffered as a human being, and humans are raised up to divinity.

The humanity represented by this blind man is rightly described as sitting at the wayside and as begging. Truth himself told us: «I am the way» (Jn 14,6). Anyone ignorant of the brightness of eternal light is blind. If he already believes in his Redeemer he is «sitting at the
wayside». If he already believes but only pretends to ask for eternal light, if he refrains from praying, he is indeed a blind man sitting at the wayside... If anyone recognizes the darkness of his blindness, if anyone understands that the light of truth is wanting to him, ket him cry from the bottom of his heart, let him cry also with his whole mind, let him say: «Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!»