As we move together into the Fourth Week of Lent, our Gospel from John tells of how Jesus cures a man of blindness. Blind since birth. And as things were in Jesus’ time righteous people—or those who consider themselves so, believed disabilities—be it blindness, paralysis, deformity or a multitude of any physical inadequacies; we brought upon the afflicted as punishment for their sins or sins of their ancestors. Jesus speaks to the man and cures him.
But as the lessons of Lent teach us—repent, reflect, renew—we must ask ourselves; was this man “physically” blind? I am reminded of a similar story from the Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 9) where two “blind” men follow Jesus, calling out “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” So blind, they “follow Jesus” into a house still begging to be healed. When Jesus asks them if they believe he can heal them, they answer: “Yes, Lord”
Jesus sends them on their way, “According to your faith, it is done for you” and their sight is restored. We must reflect, were they truly blind?
Helen Keller once said, “The only thing worse than being blind, is someone without vision.” Most of us see, but we lack spiritual sight. Our vision is tainted by prejudice, bigotry and preconceived thoughts. These can be of greater detriment than the loss of physical sight. There may be and will be, people and opportunities God presents us—and we do not recognize them—because we are blind.
Blind to the sufferings of our neighbors and of our world—the our inability to see answers or solutions. We must surrender ourselves to prayer and reflection, on what we can do. We must remember when we are called in Lent to repent—God is challenging us to change! To change our way of thinking and how we view our world, our families and friends, and our judgment of other people—and perhaps, even ourselves.
Let us seriously and sincerely reflect on our prejudices and preconceived notions. If we are truly to call ourselves Christians, we must look anew at all things; with eyes of Christ. Eyes of compassion, forgiveness and charity. Let us pray to see people and things as they truly are.
Jesus challenges us to rise above our judgments and hypocrisy (Matthew 7) “Do not comment on the speck in your neighbor’s eyes, until your eyes are clear enough to see.”
If we truly reflect on our own lives, we will discover—must of us are spiritually blind. “Have mercy on us, Son of David—help us to truly see!”
Father Bryan