"I came into this world so that those who do not see might see"
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031526.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. A personal favorite of mine is a British series, the
Fr. Brown mysteries. Who knew what, when, and how much did they know is essentially a
search for the truth.
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. It begins with Jesus doing something a bit weird. He make a mud paste with his saliva then smears it on the man's blind eyes. What may seem as a strange action really becomes a sign of the waters of baptism. As the man went to the pool of Siloam to wash away the mud on his eyes, so too the question of sin being a cause of the blindness is washed away as sin is cleansed through the waters of baptism. How rich in meaning are the open lines of this story.
On the one side you
have the man who was healed in defense of “Who” healed him. On the other side
are the sceptical and self-righteous Pharisees who demand their answer to “how
and what” happened. In this case the “who” is far more significant to 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. In fear, they defer 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, based
in true events, of how we come to faith.
The woman became a missionary disciple as she went to tell others about
Jesus, then brought them to him where he stayed for two days.
This is a very tough
time we now live in. In the season of
Lent we have 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.
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?
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.
The Eucharist stands
before us as a sign of the living Christ whom we encounter in receiving him who
saved us under that sign of bread. 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 through your Word
reconcile the human race to yourself
in a wonderful way, grant that with prompt devotion
the Christin people may hasten
toward the solemn celebrations to come.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
(Collect for Sunday)
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