John 9: 1-41
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031923.cfm
Criminal investigations and courtroom dramas are popular themes for books and movies. It all began with the television lawyer, Perry Mason, whose investigations and surprise findings always made that series popular. British author Agatha Christie and her murder mysteries and American novelist John Grisham are just two well-known examples, not to mention movies that have been made from their writings.
Who knew what, when, and how much did they know is
essentially a search for the truth. I once had to testify in court. I stood,
raised my right hand and took the oath, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” I said, “I do, so help me God.” (The
officer never asked so I added that God reference in my response).
From the exciting Gospel story this Sunday of the man who
was healed of blindness by Jesus, we have a wonderful investigative process
which unfolds before us. On the one side you have the man who was healed in
defense of “Who” healed him. On the other side are the skeptical and
self-righteous Pharisees who demand their answer to “how and what” happened. In
this case the “who” is far more significant for the story than the “what or
how.” This process is also reminiscent of our lives as Christians in the
world. We face a critical and
questioning world in defense of our Christian faith.
Though the man claimed to be born blind the Pharisees
doubt his story and imply perjury on the part of the formerly blind man: “The
Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight . . .” (Jn 9:
18) so they call in two witnesses to verify their suspicion: the parents of the
man who claimed to be healed by Jesus. They, in fear, pass off their testimony
to their son: “. . .” (Jn 9: 21).
The investigation continues as a division appears between
the testimony of the formerly blind man, the crowds, the parents, and the
suspicion of the Pharisees about Jesus: “. . . We know that this man is a
sinner . . .” (Jn 9: 24). But the Pharisees insist on hearing, again, what
happened and how it was done by Jesus. The man who can see only knows that
Jesus gave him sight. Such compassionate power is not the work of a "sinner."
Yet, the poor man who was blind is caught in the middle
and is eventually expelled from the synagogue. Still, his insistence that Jesus
was a good man, a prophet from God never waivers. Finally, after being barred,
Jesus finds him: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (Jn 9: 35) Jesus asks the
man who kneels before him and looks directly into his eyes. The man who can now
see confirms his faith: “I do believe, Lord.” (Jn 9: 38).
Like the story last week about the woman at the well,
this man is a sign of all of us who are called to renewed faith this season of
Lent. In fact, these are stories of how we come to faith. The woman became a kind of apostle as she
went to tell others about Jesus, then brought them to him.
This is a very tough time we now live in. Christ can heal this world in an instant if he
chooses but it seems that for some reason we are called to experience this
exile for a time. It is a season, now
nearing its end, that offers us graced opportunities to center our lives on Christ,
to see him, to recognize the blindness of our sin and apathy, to come to the Eucharist
with all that we have and are and allow ourselves to be healed that we may “see”
the Christ who has saved us and live according to his way.
Let’s not let the blindness of fear and doubt darken our
hope for the future. Christ remains with
us in his word and in the Eucharist. We
must remain with him in prayer and steadiness.
This formerly blind man comes to believe through a
personal encounter with Jesus. Not only
is his blindness healed, which he never requested be done, but through God’s
reaching out to us, we come to see that he is the One who offers us new
“sight;” he is the “light of the world.” From darkness to light the man has
gone; from ignorance to knowledge to faith in Christ, who is the light of the
world. Is that not our own Lenten journey and that of our Elect?
The darkness of our lives is only illuminated by the
light that Christ can bring. As St. Paul writes so beautifully in the second
reading today from Ephesians: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in
the Lord. Live as children of light . . .” (Eph 5: 8-9). The “what” and the
“who” questions lead us to see the truth – who Jesus alone.
So, what sort of blindness covers us? Sometimes it isn’t
physical – it is a spiritual blindness that is darker; a “know it all” attitude
rooted in pride. The Pharisees, in the end, are blasted by Jesus. The Pharisees,
blinded by their own self-importance cannot “see” or recognize the source of
all truth in Jesus who comes as the “Son of Man” a Messianic title. Christ is
the one they are waiting for, he stands before them but their pride blinds
them.
So, it is an outcast, an unproductive blind man whose
worth was dismissed by his own people who shows us the truth of who Jesus is
for our lives and our world. It is a powerful and thought provoking example of
God’s mysterious work in our world. It challenges our own prejudices and
expectations and humbles us.
The Eucharist stands before us as a sign of the living
Christ: Light of the World for all to follow. Do I see him? Do I see his
presence in my brothers and sisters?
O God, who enlighten everyone who comes
into the world, illuminate our hearts, we pray,
with the splendor of your grace,
that we may always ponder
what is worthy and pleasing to your majesty
and love you in all sincerity.
Through Christ our Lord.
(Prayer after Communion)
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