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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyril of Alexandria
Having been brought up a Jew, he was not ignorant that of the seed of David should God be born according to the flesh, and therefore he addresses Him as God, saying, Have mercy upon me. Would that those might imitate him who divide Christ into two. For he speaks of Christ as God, yet calls Him Son of David. But they marvel at the justice of his confession, and some even wished to prevent him from confessing his faith. But by checks of this kind his ardour was not damped. For faith is able to resist all, and to triumph over all. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The blind man believed that He (Jesus) is the awaited Christ (for, having been raised among the Jews, he probably knew that Christ is from the seed of David), and cried out with a loud voice: "Son of David! Have mercy on me." And by the words "have mercy on me" he expressed that he had some divine conception of Him, and did not consider Him merely a man.
Western Saints
Gregory the Dialogist
This blind man is rightly described as sitting beside the road and being a beggar; for the Truth himself says: "I am the way." Therefore whoever does not know the brightness of eternal light is blind; but if he already believes in the Redeemer, he sits beside the way; if, however, he already believes but neglects to ask that he might receive eternal light, and ceases from prayers, the blind man indeed sits beside the way but does not beg at all. …
Bede
And he cried out, saying: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. And those who were going before rebuked him, so that he might be silent. But he cried out much more, Son of David, have mercy on me. What do those signify who precede Jesus as he comes, if not the crowds of carnal desires and the tumults of vices, which, before Jesus comes to our hearts, scatter our thoughts with their temptations and disturb the voices of the heart in prayer? …
Bonaventure
He also asks devoutly, and therefore it follows: And he cried out, saying: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. In this, that he cries out, he shows that he has an exceeding of desire; on account of which it is said, Romans 8: "It is the Spirit who asks on our behalf with unspeakable groanings." In this, that he says Jesus, he shows that he has confidence of hope: the Psalm: "He hoped in the Lord; He will deliver him; He will save him." For in hope he calls upon Jesus, that is, the Savior, because, Romans 8, "we have been saved by …
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