March 22, 2020

4^th Sunday of Lent (A)

A Blind Man Sees and the Seeing Go Blind

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

Our Lord meets a blind man, a man in physical darkness from birth. Jesus makes a little bit of mud with his saliva (a very common act at that time) and places it on the eyes of the blind man. He then tells him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam, an action that was prohibited on the Sabbath. Jesus was aware this action was in defiance of the Law but intended that the miracle of healing would serve to confirm his divine authority.
 
The Jewish leaders reject the miracle under the pretext that it was a transgression of the Law and an act that disturbed their peace. They did not want to be disturbed or even reflect on their religious life. They were not disposed to change anything. Herein lies the drama...the paradox! More harmful than the man’s physical lack of vision was the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees.
 
He is not only happy for having received his sight but also open to the Person who has entered his life. His has physical sight, but this is of little importance to Our Lord. “If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out.” (Mt. 18:9) that is, sacrifice what is physical for what is spiritual.
 
Before the Lord’s critics, the man born blind defends the extraordinary nature of the Person who restored his sight. In contrast to the Pharisees, he had no prejudices but a heart full of amazement. The Pharisees grow in blindness while the man born blind increases his vision.
 
Resentful, the Pharisees expel the man born blind from the synagogue. This was a tough penalty for it was an excommunication with religious and social consequences. Learning of his plight, Jesus searches him out and says to him ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered and said, ‘Who is he, sir that I may believe in him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, I do believe, Lord,’ and he worshiped him.” (Jn 9: 35-38) Now the blind man truly sees. He is fully healed.
 
In our own life, we can often fall into the trap of the Pharisees. Just as they rejected the work of God, we can also be resistant to God’s word. We can easily presume that we have nothing to change. Our pride can prevent us from taking the road of humility that leads to God. Through our baptism we have been enlightened by Christ but the challenge is that, in ways great or small, we turn toward the light or away from it. Let us pray for this grace today:
 
Lord God, You are never overcome by darkness. Even the darkest night is as bright as the brightest day to You. Let me journey with You, learning to walk in Your ways, seeking Your divine presence in my life moment by moment. With you, any darkness I am in will dissipate, and the night around me will be like day once again.
 
Transform my life and deliver me from problems and anxieties that overwhelm and frighten me. Open my mind and heart to receive your word. Help me to see what I must change. Give me the resolve to come down from my pedestal and place me on the road of humility. Help me to move from darkness into Your radiant light. Amen.