The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent Scrutiny - Year A may be found at:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033025-YearA.cfm
On this fourth weekend of Lent,
we have the second scrutiny readings
as part of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
where adults desiring to become full members of the Catholic
Church prepare to receive their sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
And in today’s gospel,
the evangelist St. John tells us about the blind man
healed by Jesus on the Sabbath.
The scene begins with this man who was born blind.
And the question is asked, “Who sinned...this man or his parents?”
As if physical blindness were a punishment for sin.
As if our God, the God who loves us, would ever operate like this.
You may have heard the phrase before,
with something insignificant like stubbing your toe,
someone might utter the phrase, “See, God punished you.”
That has always bothered me.
Here was an innocent man born blind, having to endure the blame game.
The reality is that no matter our physical state,
every single one of us is made in the image of God.
Every single one of us is a full and complete human being
regardless of our limitations.
And we see Jesus’ response, clearly.
This man was born blind so God’s works might be revealed in him.
Jesus states at the outset that He is the light of the world.
Then makes a concoction with mud and spittle and puts it on the
man’s eyes and the man is healed - he could now see!
Jesus’ healed to show the kingdom of God present in a broken world.
To show His lordship over all illness.
To show His compassion over those who were suffering.
The scene then goes from physical to spiritual.
As the blindness of the Pharisees is revealed.
First, they refused to believe those who witnessed the healing.
Then, they took issue the healing took place on the Sabbath.
They showed their own blindness, rather than love and
compassion towards another human being.
The spiritual blindness of the Pharisees was confirmed by their words.
I find it kind of comical - the comment the Pharisees made to the blind man:
“You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?”
So they taught him alright, and expelled him from the synagogue!
The question for us is -
What wonderful works can God do in our world today
and just as importantly - am I open to them?
Will I not believe anything that looks too farfetched,
ready to admit it must be some coincidence rather than the work of God?
What if God is working and I don’t see, or I refuse to believe it?
Are we blind to what God can do or is doing in our lives?
Are we relating to others in a way that Jesus wants us to?
Are we holding back on witnessing our faith or not sharing it with others?
Because,
in those parts of our lives where we are not fully aligned to what God is doing,
what God wants for us -
we are blind.
Maybe it’s time for a self assessment.
To look at what we do or have failed to do in the context of what Jesus asks.
In the story of the blind man - he - unlike his parents, has the courage to say what he knows,
to speak truth to those in power,
to tell what he can about the amazing grace by which he has been touched and can now see.
At the center of this story, standing before the healing, during it, and eternally after it, is Jesus.
The true light
that enlightens our world
as we live in the shadows of darkness and sin.
He sheds true light on the nature of God,
sheds light on the way to live reconciled to God
and sheds light about what happens after we leave this world.
He wants to bring the light of love and truth into our lives.
Whether we choose to see or not
doesn’t require mud and spittle.
Whether we choose to see or not -
is up to us.
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