JERICHO
Jericho was famous in the history of Israel because the Israelites captured Canaan by first conquering the city of Jericho under the leadership of Joshua and with the miraculous intervention of God (Joshua chapter 6). Jericho was known as the “City of Palms” and later as the “City of Perfumes.”
The Jews from Galilee, while going to Jerusalem, avoided straight journey through Samaria because of their enmity with Samaritans. So, they used to travel east, crossing River Jordan, and heading south. Again, they used to cross back the River Jordan and passed through the city of Jordan to go west for eighteen miles to reach Jerusalem.
The gospels record the following events associated with Jesus and Jericho.
1. Like Joshua led the Israelites to the promised land through Jericho crossing the Jordan River, Jesus also led his companions crossing River Jordan to Jericho and went to Jerusalem for his sacrifice there.
2. Jesus healed a blind beggar, Bartimaeus (and his companion according to Matthew) in Jericho (Mt 20:29-34; Mk 10:46-52; Lk 18:35-43).
3. Jesus called Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector from a sycamore tree and dined at his house in Jericho with his friends leading to the conversion of Zacchaeus (Lk 19:1-10).
4. Jesus told the parable of the ten gold coins while he was in Jericho (Lk 19:11-27).
REFLECTION
Jericho was the gateway to the promised land of Canaan in the Old Testament and was also the city of entrance for Jesus to reach Jerusalem for his sacrifice. People had to cross River Jordan to pass through Jericho. We enter to the heavenly Jerusalem by cleansing our souls in baptism and traveling with Jesus in his church. He will heal our spiritual blindness as he did for Bartimaeus and convert us as he did for Zacchaeus.