Fourth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 31
Lectionary: 31
The LORD said to Samuel:
“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.
“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.
Responsorial Psalm PS 23:1-3A,
3B-4, 5, 6
R/ (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall
want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R/ The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Reading 2 EPH 5:8-14
Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Gospel JN 9:1-41
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He replied,
“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
And they said to him, “Where is he?”
He said, “I don’t know.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?”
His parents answered and said,
“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
“He is of age; question him.”
So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, “Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner.”
He replied,
“If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”
So they said to him,
“What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
They ridiculed him and said,
“You are that man’s disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from.”
The man answered and said to them,
“This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, ADo 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,
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
“I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind.”
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He replied,
“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
And they said to him, “Where is he?”
He said, “I don’t know.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?”
His parents answered and said,
“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
“He is of age; question him.”
So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, “Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner.”
He replied,
“If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”
So they said to him,
“What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
They ridiculed him and said,
“You are that man’s disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from.”
The man answered and said to them,
“This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, ADo 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,
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
“I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind.”
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, “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.
He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, “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.
Scripture Study
March 30, 2014 Fourth Sunday of Lent
This week we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Lent as we continue
to follow Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem. The readings this weekend are full
of images about light and darkness and about seeing. God tells Samuel that He
does not see as we see but rather He sees into the heart. Paul reminds us that
we have been called out of darkness and into the light of Jesus. Our lives now
must be full of that light. The gospel tells us the story of Jesus’ touch
bringing sight to the man born blind. The church has long used this story as a
model of the conversion process. We, like the formerly blind man, come to see
Jesus more and more as the center of who we are called to be.
First Reading: 1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a
1 The LORD said to Samuel: “How long will you grieve for Saul, whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
6 As they came, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is here before him.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”
10 In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” 12 Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, “There-anoint him, for this is he!” 13 Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David. When Samuel took his leave, he went to Ramah.
NOTES on First Reading:
* 16:1-14 There seem to be multiple traditions about David’s anointing. Each story, as recorded, seems to present itself as if it were his first one. The anointing presented in this chapter is unknown to David’s brother Eliab in the story that follows in the next chapter (1 Sam 17:28), and David is anointed twice more after Saul’s death (2 Sam 2:4; 5:3). This story is the beginning of a whole complex of David stories that present David’s rise to the throne until he finally becomes king in 2 Sam 5. Many of them present the increasing tension between David and Saul as Saul falls farther and farther from God’s favor.
Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 8-14
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, 9 for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. 10 Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, 12 for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 5:8-14 This is Paul’s admonition to live lives worthy of the great privilege to which the believers are called. As children of the light we must live lives that are full of that light. We must be channels of light to others. We can’t do that if our lives are full of darkness.
* 5:14 These words are probably from an early Christian hymn which was possibly part of a baptismal liturgy. Compare the content with Ephesians 2:5-6; 3:9 and Isaiah 60:1.
Gospel Reading: John 9: 1-41 or 9:1, 6-9,13-17, 34-38 (for the short form)
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. 4 We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
8 His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” 10 So they said to him, “(So) how were your eyes opened?” 11 He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” 12 And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.”
13 They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. 15 So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” 16 So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” (But) others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
18 Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” 20 His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for him self.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.”
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” 26 So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.” 30 The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. 32 It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” 34 They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.
35 When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.” 38 He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. 39 Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”
40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.
NOTES on Gospel:
* 9:1-10:21 This fifth sign in John’s Gospel illustrates the saying, “I am the light of the world” (8:12; 9:5). The conflict narrative about Jesus contrasts Jesus (light) with the Jewish authorities (blindness, 9:39-41). The theme of water is reintroduced in the reference to the pool of Siloam. There is irony in that Jesus is being judged by the Jewish leaders, yet they are judged by the Light of the world in 3:19-21.
* 9:2 It was a common belief of that time that physical illness or misfortune was a punishment for sin or, at least, the result of sin committed personally or by one’s family.
* 9:6 This was a common action by the “healers” of the day.
* 9:7 The Old Testament background for this image may be 2 Kings 5:10-14. The name of the pool means “sent.” This is an allusion to Jesus who is the one who is sent and in whom the catechumens will find light. They who had been spiritually blind from birth will be given sight by the one who was sent as the Light of the world. The early church saw Baptism as the immersion in Christ that would provide the insight of reality to which they had been blind from birth. The blind man’s progressive sight parallels the catechumen’s progressive insight into the mystery of Jesus. First, knowledge that there was a man named Jesus (9:11). He is a prophet (9:17). He is seen as a man from God (9:33). He is the heavenly Son of Man (9:35). Finally, He is worshiped as Lord (9:38).
* 9:14 It was in using spittle, kneading clay, and healing that Jesus had broken the sabbath rules laid down by Jewish tradition.
* 9:22 This is an artifact of the time in which the Gospel of John was written. The same terms are used again in John 12:42 and 16:2 The real separation between the Jews and the Christians did not occur until about 70 AD when the temple was destroyed and Judaism reached a crisis that threatened its existence in the Roman Empire. They acted to distance themselves from the Christians because the followers of Christ had acquired the disfavor of the Roman empire.
Rejection/excommunication from the synagogue of those Jews who confessed Jesus as Messiah seems to have begun around A.D. 85, when the curse against the minim or heretics was introduced into the “Eighteen Benedictions.”
* 9:24 This appears often as an Old Testament formula of adjuration to tell the truth. See Joshua 7:19; 1 Sam 6:5 (Septuagint version) as well as John 5:41.
* 9:32 The only Old Testament cure from blindness is found in Tobit (Tobit 7:7; 11:7-13; 14:1-2), but Tobit was not born blind. The statement in this verse was still true until about the year 1728 when the celebrated Dr. Cheselden by surgical operation, gave sight to a 14 year old boy who had been born blind.
* 9:34 The popular belief of the time was that illness was a punishment for sin.
* 9:40 The Pharisees often called themselves “the teachers of the blind” referring to the common folk as “the blind” in that they did not know the law.
* 9:41 The Pharisees tended to trust in their own righteousness and refused to see the extent of their own need. Thus they placed themselves beyond Jesus’ reach as He reached out to them.
Meditation: Jesus opens eyes that are shut
: Do you recognize the light of God's truth and power in your
life? God wants to remove every obstacle that might hinder us from recognizing
the light of his truth and wisdom for our lives. Saul, the first king of
Israel, failed to recognize God's light and power to save him from his enemies.
God replaced Saul with David, the youngest of Jesse's eight sons (1 Samuel 16).
God saw something in David which Jesse and his other sons did not recognize - a
man after God's own heart who delighted in doing what was pleasing to the Lord
(1 Samuel 13:14). David was a man of courage and vision who defeated his
enemies and united his people. His strength and success came not from himself
but from God who anointed him with the power and wisdom of his own Spirit.
What can keep us from the light of God's truth, wisdom, and
strength for our lives? Sin blinds us and causes us to stumble and fall -
unable to rise on our own or to walk in the freedom of God's love and truth.
Sin clouds the mind in moral confusion, and it grows in darkness and resists
the light of God's truth. Only God's light can uncover the darkness of sin and
free us to walk in the path of holiness and peace with God.
The light of the world
When the disciples saw a man who had been blind from birth, they asked Jesus what kind of sin had caused this blindness. The Jews had understood that many infirmities were the result of human folly and sin. While sin can lead to physical, mental, and spiritual infirmities, not all sickness is the direct result of sin. Sickness can befall us for a variety of reasons. Jesus answered that God had allowed this infirmity for a greater purpose which God wanted to demonstrate as a sign of his presence and power. Jesus then made a claim which only God could rightfully make. Jesus stated unequivocally, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). In so many words Jesus was saying that he is the one true source of power and light which sustains life and overcomes the darkness of sin, confusion, and spiritual blindness. Jesus' mighty works - his miraculous signs - confirmed the truth of his message and claim to divine authority and equality with his Father in heaven. One of his greatest signs was the healing of a man who had been blind from birth.
When the disciples saw a man who had been blind from birth, they asked Jesus what kind of sin had caused this blindness. The Jews had understood that many infirmities were the result of human folly and sin. While sin can lead to physical, mental, and spiritual infirmities, not all sickness is the direct result of sin. Sickness can befall us for a variety of reasons. Jesus answered that God had allowed this infirmity for a greater purpose which God wanted to demonstrate as a sign of his presence and power. Jesus then made a claim which only God could rightfully make. Jesus stated unequivocally, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). In so many words Jesus was saying that he is the one true source of power and light which sustains life and overcomes the darkness of sin, confusion, and spiritual blindness. Jesus' mighty works - his miraculous signs - confirmed the truth of his message and claim to divine authority and equality with his Father in heaven. One of his greatest signs was the healing of a man who had been blind from birth.
Healing of man born blind
When Jesus approached the blind man he first awakened hope in him - the hope which God offers those who seek his help. Jesus then did something quite remarkable for the blind man, both to identify with this man's misery and to draw expectant faith in him as well. Jesus touched the man's eyes with his own spittle mixed with dirt and bid him to wash in the Pool of Siloam which was close to the Temple. This pool of fresh flowing water was one of the landmarks of the city of Jerusalem. It's source came from the Gihon spring located in the valley outside the walls of Jerusalem. This pool was likely used as a ceremonial bath of purification for people who were going up to the Temple to worship. On the yearly feast of Tabernacles, one of the priests brought a golden pitcher of water from this pool and poured it out over the altar in the temple while reciting from the verse, "You will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). What is the significance of the healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam? It is certainly more than just a miraculous event. It is a "sign" that points to the source of the miraculous life-giving water which Jesus offers through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38). Do you want the Holy Spirit to pour out on you his renewing power of faith, vision, and healing love?
When Jesus approached the blind man he first awakened hope in him - the hope which God offers those who seek his help. Jesus then did something quite remarkable for the blind man, both to identify with this man's misery and to draw expectant faith in him as well. Jesus touched the man's eyes with his own spittle mixed with dirt and bid him to wash in the Pool of Siloam which was close to the Temple. This pool of fresh flowing water was one of the landmarks of the city of Jerusalem. It's source came from the Gihon spring located in the valley outside the walls of Jerusalem. This pool was likely used as a ceremonial bath of purification for people who were going up to the Temple to worship. On the yearly feast of Tabernacles, one of the priests brought a golden pitcher of water from this pool and poured it out over the altar in the temple while reciting from the verse, "You will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). What is the significance of the healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam? It is certainly more than just a miraculous event. It is a "sign" that points to the source of the miraculous life-giving water which Jesus offers through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38). Do you want the Holy Spirit to pour out on you his renewing power of faith, vision, and healing love?
The Pharisees were upset with Jesus' miracle on two counts.
First, he healed the blind man on the Sabbath, which they considered a serious
violation of the command to rest on the Sabbath. Second, how could a
"sinner" and a "sabbath-breaker" do such a marvelous work
of God! The man who claimed to have been healed by Jesus must not have really
been blind to begin with! Contrary to this false charge, the fact of this man's
blindness was well known to many people, including the parents who testified
under oath that he had indeed been blind since birth. The prejudice of the
religious leaders made them blind to God's intention for the Sabbath (to do
good rather than evil) and to Jesus' claim to be the One sent from the Father
in heaven to bring freedom and light to his people. The Jewish leaders tried to
intimidate both this cured man and his parents by threatening to exclude them
from membership in the synagogue - the local congregation of the worshipping
community of Jews. This man was shunned by the religious authorities because he
believed that Jesus healed him and was the Messiah.
Freedom from spiritual blindness
John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, remarked: "The Jews (the Pharisees) cast him out of the Temple; the Lord of the Temple found him." If our witness of Jesus and his redeeming work in our lives causes friends or foes to reject us, it nonetheless draws us nearer to the Lord Jesus himself. Paul the Apostles warns us to avoid the darkness of sin that we might walk more clearly in the light of Christ (Ephesians 5:8-12). Do you allow any blindspots to blur your vision of what God is offering you and asking of you?
John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, remarked: "The Jews (the Pharisees) cast him out of the Temple; the Lord of the Temple found him." If our witness of Jesus and his redeeming work in our lives causes friends or foes to reject us, it nonetheless draws us nearer to the Lord Jesus himself. Paul the Apostles warns us to avoid the darkness of sin that we might walk more clearly in the light of Christ (Ephesians 5:8-12). Do you allow any blindspots to blur your vision of what God is offering you and asking of you?
The Lord Jesus is ever ready to heal us and to free us from the
darkness of sin and deception. There is no sickness, whether physical, mental,
emotional, or spiritual that the Lord Jesus does not identify with. Isaiah
prophesied that the "Suffering Servant" would be bruised for our
iniquities and by his stripes we would be healed (Isaiah 53:5). The Lord offers
us freedom from spiritual blindness due to sin and he restores us to wholeness
of body, mind, soul, and heart. Augustine of Hippo, in his commentary on
this gospel passage, remarks: "If we reflect on the meaning of this
miracle, we will see that the blind man is the human race ...You already know,
of course, who the "One Sent" is. Unless he had been sent, none of us
would have been freed from sin."
"Jesus, in your name the blind see, the lame walk, and the
dead are raised to life. Come into our lives and heal the wounds of our broken
hearts. Give us eyes of faith to see your glory and hearts of courage to
bring you glory in all we say and do."
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Fourth Sunday of Lent
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Father Steven Reilly, LC
John 9: 1-41
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His
disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that
he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his
parents sinned; he was born blind so that God´s works might be revealed in
him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is
coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of
the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud
with the saliva and spread the mud on the man´s eyes, saying to him,
"Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went
and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen
him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to
sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were
saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I
am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes
opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on
my eyes, and said to me, ´Go to Siloam and wash.´ Then I went and washed and
received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said,
"I do not know." They brought to the Pharisees the man who had
formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and
opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received
his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and
now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God,
for he does not observe the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a
man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they
said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your
eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet." The Jews did not
believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called
the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is
this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"
His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was
born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who
opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His
parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had
already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put
out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said
to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He
answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know,
that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he
do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have
told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him,
saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know
that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he
comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You
do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God
does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and
obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone
opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he
could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in
sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out. Jesus
heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do
you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir?
Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You
have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said,
"Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said, "I came
into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those
who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this
and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to
them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say,
´We see,´ your sin remains.
Introductory Prayer: Father, I come to you like the man born
blind. I am totally dependent on your grace. I want to show you my love by
being totally open to the graces you will give me through this meditation.
Petition: Lord, help my faith grow when I encounter adversity.
1. Who’s to Blame? Many people, moved by compassion, would drop
a coin into the cup, thinking all the while, “Poor devil, must have been
quite a sinner.” The disciples, though they had heard Jesus’ many parables
about mercy, show a tiny bit of this “misfortune-equals-divine-punishment”
outlook themselves. But, perhaps it could have been his parents who are to
blame? The disciples are frequently criticized for being slow on the uptake,
but that is because they are the mirror that deflects the criticism from
where it should really go: to ourselves. How often, when bad things happen,
we wonder if God really loves us. We can find ourselves shaking our fist and
muttering, “He doesn’t care what happens to me.” Jesus’ answer to this lack
of faith is as sharp as it is consoling: “Neither this man nor his parents
sinned; he was born blind so that God´s works might be revealed in him.”
2. Faith Can Grow through Adversity! The simple life of the
formerly blind beggar became quite complicated indeed. Instead of
encountering rejoicing friends and family upon receiving the miracle, he
encounters confrontation. The adversity is intense; the hostility of the
Pharisees is palpable. Yet through it all, the man remains steadfast in his
belief in Jesus. In fact, with each attack at his credibility and even with
his parents wanting to keep a safe distance, the man’s adherence to Jesus
grows and grows. This is seen in the way he refers to Jesus. “The man Jesus”
… “He is a Prophet” … “I do believe, LORD.” From “man” to “prophet” to “Lord”:
That is the work of God shining through this unlikely apostle! Let’s look at
the situations in our life that challenge our faith. Could we, like this man,
turn the tables and make it a faith-growing opportunity? Like him, could we
be better witnesses to Jesus?
3. He Worshiped Him: Faith not only grows through adversity. It
can sometimes make a giant leap. Nowhere else in the New Testament, before
the Resurrection, do we encounter Jesus being “worshiped.” The man once blind
now is gifted with dazzling light: Jesus is Lord, Jesus is God! That gift is
so great, so amazing, that there is no looking back. The man has been tossed
out of the synagogue which, according to the Jewish culture of the time, was
the moral equivalent of a death sentence; cut off from the people, he was a
non-person. Yet there are no regrets. The vision of spiritual truth, the
astounding realization of who Jesus is, more than repays any sacrifice.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, I long to
please you with my life. Help me to recognize when you are trying to do God’s
works through me. Often I am slow to see any positive value to passing
adversity. But I know with your help I can be a witness to you. Like the man
you cured of his blindness, I cry out to you, “I do believe, Lord!”
Resolution: Each time I encounter adversity, I will make an act of faith
stronger than the last one.
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
SUNDAY, MARCH 30, JOHN 9:1-41(1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14)
SUNDAY, MARCH 30, JOHN 9:1-41(1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14)
KEY VERSE: "One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see" (v 25).
READING: Jesus told his disciples that no follower of his would walk in darkness but would have the "light of life" (Jn 8:12). During the seven day feast of Tabernacles, the temple area was illuminated with torches. On the last day of the festival, water from the pool of Siloam was poured on the altar in thanksgiving for the rain that assured a good harvest. Jesus declared that he was the fountain of "living water" that brought forth new life (7:37-38). Moreover, he was the "light of the world" who enlightened those in darkness (9:4). The story of the man born blind illustrated these two sayings of Jesus. When Jesus’ disciples saw the blind man, they asked, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered that neither the man nor his parents sinned. It was so that the works of God might be made visible through him. Then Jesus made a mixture of clay and salvia, put it on the blind man's eyes, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam (meaning "sent"). When he did so, his blindness was cured. The Pharisees, who were spiritually blind, accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law by healing the man. But the man knew that his healing had come from God, and he fell at Jesus' feet and acknowledged him as "Lord." This story was a popular feature of Baptismal ceremonies in the early Church. St. Augustine said, "The blind man is the whole human race."
REFLECTING: Have I been praying for the Elect who are journeying to baptism this Lent?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, you are a lamp to my feet, leading me to the waters of your healing grace.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Discipleship
The gift of our faith is not something we are to hoard for our own
benefit; it is meant to be shared with the world. Lent is a good time to wonder
about what makes us Catholic, and the particular ways we can follow Christ’s
call to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want
‘I am the light of the world.’There are three Scrutinies in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, celebrated for the elect during Lent. The elect are those adults chosen by God to become members of the Body of Christ during the Easter Vigil. The Second Scrutiny is celebrated this weekend and is based on the gospel reading about the man born blind. The text reminds all of us, baptised and not baptised, that Christ is the light of the world. The Scrutinies are rites of healing and strengthening, bringing to light and healing all that is broken, while also bringing to light and strengthening all that is good in the person. They assist the elect to spiritually prepare for ‘the night of nights’, so that during the Easter Vigil, the elect can say with fervour, like the man healed of his blindness, ‘Lord, I believe.’
March
30
St. Peter Regalado
(1390-1456)
St. Peter Regalado
(1390-1456)
Peter lived at a very busy time in history. The Great Western
Schism (1378-1417) was settled at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). France
and England were fighting the Hundred Years’ War, and in 1453 the Byzantine
Empire was completely wiped out by the loss of Constantinople to the Turks. At
Peter’s death the age of printing had just begun in Germany, and Columbus's
arrival in the New World was less than 40 years away.
Peter
came from a wealthy and pious family in Valladolid, Spain. At the age of 13, he
was allowed to enter the Conventual Franciscans. Shortly after his ordination,
he was made superior of the friary in Aguilar. He became part of a group of
friars who wanted to lead a life of greater poverty and penance. In 1442 he was
appointed head of all the Spanish Franciscans in his reform group.
Peter led
the friars by his example. A special love of the poor and the sick characterized
Peter. Miraculous stories are told about his charity to the poor. For example,
the bread never seemed to run out as long as Peter had hungry people to feed.
Throughout most of his life, Peter went hungry; he lived only on bread and
water.
Immediately
after his death on March 31, 1456, his grave became a place of pilgrimage.
Peter was canonized in 1746.
Comment:
Peter was an effective leader of the friars because he did not become ensnared in anger over the sins of others. Peter helped sinning friars rearrange the priorities in their lives and dedicate themselves to living the gospel of Jesus Christ as they had vowed. This patient correction is an act of charity available to all Franciscans, not just to superiors.
Peter was an effective leader of the friars because he did not become ensnared in anger over the sins of others. Peter helped sinning friars rearrange the priorities in their lives and dedicate themselves to living the gospel of Jesus Christ as they had vowed. This patient correction is an act of charity available to all Franciscans, not just to superiors.
Quote:
"And let all the brothers, both the ministers and servants as well as the others, take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many through the fault of one; but they should spiritually help [the brother] who has sinned as best they can, because it is not the healthy who are in need of the physician, but those who are sick (cf. Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17)" (Rule of 1221, Chapter 5).
"And let all the brothers, both the ministers and servants as well as the others, take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many through the fault of one; but they should spiritually help [the brother] who has sinned as best they can, because it is not the healthy who are in need of the physician, but those who are sick (cf. Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17)" (Rule of 1221, Chapter 5).
LECTIO DIVINA:
4TH SUNDAY OF LENT (A)
Lectio:
Sunday, March 30, 2014
A blind man sees the light
Our eyes open when we live with Jesus
John 9:1-41
Our eyes open when we live with Jesus
John 9:1-41
1.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures
with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In
the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the
presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the
cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life
and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in
Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor
and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples
from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to
others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and
peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father
and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2.
READING
a) A key to the reading:
The text of the Gospel of the fourth Sunday of Lent invites us
to meditate on the healing of a man born blind. It is a short but lively text.
It is a concrete example of the way the Fourth Gospel reveals the deep hidden
meaning of the events in Jesus’ life. The story of the healing of the blind man
helps us open our eyes to the picture of Jesus that we each carry within
ourselves. We often think of a Jesus who looks like a glorious king, removed
from the life of ordinary people! In the Gospels, Jesus is presented as a Servant
of the poor, friend of sinners. The picture of the Messiah-King that the
Pharisees had in mind, kept us from recognising Jesus the Messiah-Servant. As
we read the Gospel, let us try to pay attention to two things: (i) the expert
and free way the blind man reacts to the provocations of the authorities, and
(ii) the way the blind man himself opens his eyes concerning Jesus.
b) A division of the text as a help to the reading:
John 9:1-5: Blindness before the evil that exists in the world
John 9:6-7: The sign of the “One sent by God” who will provoke
various reactions
John 9:8-13: The reaction of the neighbours
John 9:14-17: The reaction of the Pharisees
John 9:18-23: The reaction of the parents
John 9:24-34: The final judgement of the Pharisees
John 9:35-38: The final attitude of the man born blind
John 9:39-41: A closing reflection
c) Text:
1 As he went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.
2 His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he
should have been born blind?' 3 'Neither he nor his parents sinned,' Jesus
answered, 'he was born blind so that the works of God might be revealed in him.
4 'As long as day lasts we must carry out the work of the one who sent me; the
night will soon be here when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world I
am the light of the world.'
6 Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the
spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, 7 and said to him, 'Go and
wash in the Pool of Siloam' (the name means 'one who has been sent'). So he
went off and washed and came back able to see.
8 His neighbours and the people who used to see him before (for
he was a beggar) said, 'Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?' 9 Some
said, 'Yes, it is the same one.' Others said, 'No, but he looks just like him.'
The man himself said, 'Yes, I am the one.' 10 So they said to him, 'Then how is
it that your eyes were opened?' 11 He answered, 'The man called Jesus made a
paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, "Go off and wash at
Siloam"; so I went, and when I washed I gained my sight.' 12 They asked,
'Where is he?' He answered, 'I don't know.' 13 They brought to the Pharisees
the man who had been blind.
14 It had been a Sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and
opened the man's eyes, 15 so when the Pharisees asked him how he had gained his
sight, he said, 'He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.' 16
Then some of the Pharisees said, 'That man cannot be from God: he does not keep
the Sabbath.' Others said, 'How can a sinner produce signs like this?' And
there was division among them. 17 So they spoke to the blind man again, 'What
have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?' The man
answered, 'He is a prophet.'
18 However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been
blind without first sending for the parents of the man who had gained his sight
and 19 asking them, 'Is this man really the son of yours who you say was born
blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?' 20 His parents answered,
'We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, 21 but how he can see, we
don't know, nor who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is old enough: let him speak
for himself.' 22 His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had
already agreed to ban from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as
the Christ. 23 This was why his parents said, 'He is old enough; ask him.'
24 So the Jews sent for the man again and said to him, 'Give
glory to God! We are satisfied that this man is a sinner.' 25 The man answered,
'Whether he is a sinner I don't know; all I know is that I was blind and now I
can see.' 26 They said to him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your
eyes?' 27 He replied, 'I have told you once and you wouldn't listen. Why do you
want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples yourselves?' 28
At this they hurled abuse at him, 'It is you who are his disciple, we are
disciples of Moses: 29 we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we
don't know where he comes from.' 30 The man replied, 'That is just what is so
amazing! You don't know where he comes from and he has opened my eyes! 31 We know
that God doesn't listen to sinners, but God does listen to people who are
devout and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began it is unheard of for
anyone to open the eyes of someone born blind; 33 if this man were not from
God, he wouldn't have been able to do anything.' 34 They retorted, 'Are you
trying to teach us, and you a sinner through and through ever since you were
born!' And they ejected him.
35 Jesus heard they had ejected him, and when he found him he
said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of man?' 36 'Sir,' the man replied,
'tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.' 37 Jesus said, 'You have seen
him; he is speaking to you.' 38 The man said, 'Lord, I believe,' and worshipped
him.
39 Jesus said: It is for judgement that I have come into this
world, so that those without sight may see and those with sight may become
blind. 40 Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, 'So we are
blind, are we?' 41 Jesus replied: If you were blind, you would not be guilty,
but since you say, 'We can see,' your guilt remains.
3.
A MOMENT OF PRAYERFUL SILENCE
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4.
SOME QUESTIONS
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) What part of this text touched me most? Why?
b) A popular saying goes: “None so blind as those who will not
see!” How does this apply to the conversation between the blind man and the
Pharisees?
c) By what titles is Jesus hailed in the text? Who pronounces
these? What do they mean?
d) What title do I like best? Why? Or, what picture of Jesus do
I carry in my mind and my heart? Where does this picture come from?
e) How can I purify my eyes to see the true Jesus of the
Gospels?
5.
FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE TEXT
a) The context within which the Gospel of John was written:
As we meditate on the story of the healing of the blind man, it
is good to keep in mind the context of the Christian communities in Asia Minor
towards the end of the first century for whom the Gospel of John was written
and who identified with the blind man and his healing. Because of a legalistic
view of the Law of God, they were blind from birth. But, as happened with the
blind man, they too were able to see the presence of God in the person of Jesus
of Nazareth and were converted. It was a painful process! In describing the
steps and conflicts of the healing of the blind man, the author of the Fourth
Gospel recalls the spiritual journey of the community, from the darkness of
blindness to the full light of faith enlightened by Jesus.
b) A commentary on the text:
John 9:1-5: Blindness before the evil that exists in the world
When the disciples see the blind man, they ask: “Rabbì, who
sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?” In those
days, a physical defect or sickness was thought to be a punishment from God.
Associating physical defects with sin was the way the priests of the Old
Testament kept their power over people’s consciences. Jesus helps his disciples
to correct their ideas: “Neither he nor his parents sinned…he was born blind so
that the works of God might be displayed in him!” The works of God is
the same as Sign of God. Thus, that which in those days was a sign
of God’s absence, is now a sign of his brilliant presence in our midst. Jesus
says: “As long as the day lasts I must carry out the work of the one who sent
me; the night will soon be here when no one can work. As long as I am in the
world I am the light of the world.” The Day ofsigns begins
to manifest itself when Jesus, “on the third day” (Jn 2:1), makes present the
“first sign” in Cana (Jn 2:11). But the day is about to end. The night is about
to fall, because it is already “the seventh day”, the Sabbath, and the healing
of the blind man is now the sixth sign (Jn 9:14). The Night is
the death of Jesus. The seventh sign will be the victory over death at the
resurrection of Lazarus (Jn 11). In John’s Gospel there are only seven signs,
miracles, that announce the great sign, namely the Death and Resurrection of
Jesus.
John 9:6-7. The sign of the “One sent by God” who will provoke
various reactions
Jesus spits on the ground, forms mud with his saliva, puts the
mud on the eyes of the blind man and tells him to wash in the pool of Siloam.
The man goes and comes back healed. This is the sign! John
comments saying that Siloam meanssent. Jesus is the One
sent by the Father who works the works of God, the signs of the
Father. The sign of this ‘sending’ is that the blind man begins to see.
John 9:8-13: The first reaction: that of the neighbours
The blind man is well known. The neighbours have doubts: “Is
this he?” And they ask: “How do your eyes come to be open?” The man who was
blind testifies: “The Man called Jesus opened my eyes”. The
basis of our faith in Jesus is to accept that he is a human being like us. The
neighbours ask: “Where is he?” - “I don’t know!” They are not satisfied with
the answer of the blind man and, to clarify matters, they bring the man before
the Pharisees, the religious authorities.
John 9:14-17: The second reaction: that of the Pharisees
That day was a Sabbath and on the Sabbath it was forbidden to
heal. When asked by the Pharisees, the man tells everything once more. Some
Pharisees, blind in their observance of the law, say: “This man cannot be from
God, he does not keep the Sabbath!” They could not admit that Jesus could be a
sign of God because he healed the blind man on a Sabbath. But other Pharisees,
faced by the sign, answer: “How could a sinner produce signs like this?” They
were divided among themselves! So they asked the blind man: “What have you to
say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?” And he gives
witness: “He is a Prophet!”
John 9:18-23: The third reaction: that of the parents
The Pharisees, now called the Jews, did not
believe that he was blind. They thought that it was a matter of deception. So
they called his parents and asked: “Is this man really your son who you say was
born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?” Very carefully the
parents reply: “We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we
don’t know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old
enough: let him speak for himself!” The blindness of the Pharisees before the
evidence of the healing produces fear among the people. And anyone who
professed faith in Jesus Messiah was excluded from the
synagogue. The conversation with the parents of the blind man reveals the
truth, but the religious authorities will not accept it. Their blindness is
greater because of the witness given, now they will not accept the law that
says that the witness of two persons is valid (Jn 8:17).
John 9:24-34: The final judgement of the Pharisees concerning
Jesus
They call the blind man again and say: “Give glory to God! For
our part we know that this man is a sinner.” Here: “give glory to God” meant:
“Ask pardon for the lie you just pronounced!” The blind man had said: “He is a
prophet!” According to the Pharisees he should have said: “He is a sinner!” But
the blind man is intelligent. He replies: “I don’t know if he is a sinner; I
only know that I was blind and now I can see!” There are no arguments against
this fact! Again the Pharisees ask: “What did he do to you? How did he open
your eyes?” The blind man answers with a touch of irony: “I have told you
once…. Do you want to become his disciples too?” Then they insulted him and
said: “You can be his disciple, we know that God spoke to Moses, but for this
man, we don’t know where he comes from”. Again with a touch of irony the blind
man replies: “Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you
don’t know where he comes from! …. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t
do a thing”. Faced with the blindness of the Pharisees, the light of faith
grows in the blind man. He does not accept the logic of the Pharisees and
confesses that Jesus comes from the Father. This profession of
faith costs him his expulsion from the synagogue. The same was happening in the
communities of the end of the first century. Those who professed faith in Jesus
had to break all family and community ties. This happens today: those who
decide to be faithful to Jesus run the risk of being excluded.
John 9:35-38: The attitude of faith of the blind man towards
Jesus
Jesus does not abandon those who are persecuted for his sake.
When Jesus hears of the expulsion and meets the man again, he helps him to take
a further step by inviting him to take on his faith and asks: “Do you believe
in the Son of Man?” He replies: “Sir…tell me who he is that
I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him: “You are looking at him; he is speaking
to you”. The blind man exclaims: “Lord, I believe!” And he worships
Jesus. The faith attitude of the blind man before Jesus is one of absolute
trust and total acceptance. He accepts everything from Jesus. It is this faith
that sustained the Christian communities of Asia towards the end of the first
century, and that sustains us today.
John 9:39-41: A final reflection
The blind man who could not see, ends up seeing better than the
Pharisees. The communities of Asia Minor who were once blind, discover the
light. The Pharisees who thought that they saw well are more blind than the man
born blind. Bound by an ancient observance, they lie when they say they can
see. None more blind that those who will not see!
c) A broader view:
- The Names and Titles given to Jesus
Throughout the story of the healing of the blind man, the
Evangelist registers various titles, adjectives and names given to Jesus by a
host of people, the disciples, the Evangelist himself, the blind man, the
Pharisees and Jesus himself. This way of describing the events in the life of
Jesus was part of the catechesis of the time. It was a way of helping people to
clarify their own ideas concerning Jesus and to identify themselves in his
regard. Here are some of the names, adjectives and titles. The list shows the
growth of the blind man in faith and how his vision becomes clear.
* Rabbì (master) (Jn. 9:1): the disciples
* Light of the world (Jn 9:5): Jesus
* The One sent (Jn 9:7): the Evangelist
* Man (Jn 9:11): the healed man
* Jesus: (Jn 9:11): the healed man
* Does not come from God (Jn 9:16): some Pharisees
* Prophet (Jn 9:17): the healed man
* Christ (Jn 9:22): the people
* Sinner (Jn 9:24): some Pharisees
* We do know where he comes from (Jn 9:31): the healed man
* Religious (Jn 9:31): the healed man
* Does the will of God (Jn 9:31): the healed man
* Son of man (Jn 9:35): Jesus
* Lord (Jn 9:36): the healed man
* Lord, I believe! (Jn 9:30): the healed man
* Light of the world (Jn 9:5): Jesus
* The One sent (Jn 9:7): the Evangelist
* Man (Jn 9:11): the healed man
* Jesus: (Jn 9:11): the healed man
* Does not come from God (Jn 9:16): some Pharisees
* Prophet (Jn 9:17): the healed man
* Christ (Jn 9:22): the people
* Sinner (Jn 9:24): some Pharisees
* We do know where he comes from (Jn 9:31): the healed man
* Religious (Jn 9:31): the healed man
* Does the will of God (Jn 9:31): the healed man
* Son of man (Jn 9:35): Jesus
* Lord (Jn 9:36): the healed man
* Lord, I believe! (Jn 9:30): the healed man
- The Name: “I AM”
To reveal the deep meaning of the healing of the blind man, the
Fourth Gospel records the words of Jesus: “I am the light of the world” (Jn
9:5). In several places, in answer to questions people put to Jesus, the Gospel
repeats this same statement “I AM”:
* I am the bread of life (Jn 6:34-48)
* I am the living bread come down from heaven (Jn 6:51)
* I am the light of the world (Jn 8:12; 9:5)
* I am the gate (Jn 10: 7.9)
* I am the good shepherd (Jn 10:11,25)
* I am the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25)
* I am the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6)
* I am the vine (Jn 15:1)
* I am king (Jn 18:37)
* I am (Jn 8:24.27.58)
* I am the living bread come down from heaven (Jn 6:51)
* I am the light of the world (Jn 8:12; 9:5)
* I am the gate (Jn 10: 7.9)
* I am the good shepherd (Jn 10:11,25)
* I am the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25)
* I am the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6)
* I am the vine (Jn 15:1)
* I am king (Jn 18:37)
* I am (Jn 8:24.27.58)
This self revelation of Jesus reaches its peak in his
conversation with the Jews, when Jesus says: “When you have lifted up the Son
of Man, then you will know that I am He” (Jn 8:27). The name I am is the same
as Yahweh, the name God took in Exodus, an expression of his liberating
presence between Jesus and the Father (Ex 3:15). The repeated affirmation I AM
reveals the deep identity between Jesus and the Father. The face of God shines
in Jesus of Nazareth: “To have seen me is to have seen the Father!” (Jn 14:9)
6.
PRAYER: PSALM 117 (116)
A resume of the Bible in one prayer
Alleluia! Praise Yahweh,
all nations, extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending.
Alleluia! Praise Yahweh,
all nations, extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending.
7.
FINAL PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to
understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions
and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us.
May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practise the Word.
You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever
and ever. Amen.
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