Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last week we focused on the Samaritan woman who encounter’s Jesus at the well and winds up becoming an evangelizer to her own community. Today we focus on the man born blind whom Jesus encounters when he goes to Jerusalem for the feast of Tabernacles.

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to mixed reviews. Some have embraced him as the Messiah, others still have not been won over and others show outward hostility towards him which has led to an attempt to do him in. However, Jesus will not be deterred from his mission as the ‘Light of the World’ to help every person who puts their faith in him.

Our selection starts with Jesus, who has avoided an attempt on his life and is making his way through Jerusalem. Along his route, he encounters a man born blind. His disciples question him in regard to the origins of his blindness. This reflects an Old Testament theology extracted from the book of Deuteronomy where the righteous are blessed by God and the unrighteous receive punishment.  The question leveled by his disciples seems to point out that the disciples themselves are in the dark. Jesus, however, will open their eyes and help them see. He responds that the man’s blindness was due neither to his nor his parent’s sins, but that sometimes these tragedies happen in life. However, this man’s blindness will not end in sadness, but will become a means given by Jesus to reveal and manifest God’s will. Jesus stresses the urgency of the moment and includes his disciples in the work he must do to reveal it. He says, ‘We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.’ Notice he uses the first-person plural! The implication here is that after his resurrection he will send the Holy Spirit to his disciples so that the Church can continue his work to the end of time.

Jesus kneels on the ground, spits, and makes clay with the dirt mixed with his saliva. He then smears this on the man’s eyes and instructs him to go and wash in the nearby pool of Siloam. Jesus’ use of the elements of the earth highlight his divinity by showing him to the be the master of all created things. In some ways too, it may hearken back to God’s creation of Adam from the clay of the earth as we see in the Book of Genesis. Adam who falls due to original sin  has become spiritually blind due to sin. The man’s need to go and be washed becomes a baptism of sorts as he becomes a new creation in the waters. The blindness is removed and now he sees clearly. Jesus, who is the light of the world has delivered him from physical and spiritual darkness. He who was alienated from God has now been restored to life.

The man now able to see, begins to testify to Jesus’ healing power. As he is recognized he shares his story with his neighbors, reminiscent of the woman at the well, who goes to share the news with the townsfolk.

Sight/blindness, light and darkness, as previously mentioned, are predominant themes in the Gospel of John. After the healing of the man born blind, Jesus enters into an argument with the Pharisees who try to denounce the man as a liar and Jesus as a fraud. As usual, Jesus bests them in the argument and turns the tables on them showing who is truly in the dark, stumbling around blind. Naturally, this does nothing to help Jesus’ cause and instead fires their animosity towards him. As for the man born blind, he now not only sees, but is filled with light and our gospel closes with him placing his faith in Jesus, as evidenced by the man referring to Jesus as ‘Lord’.

As I get older I am finding that I need to get up in the middle of the night. I never had to do that in my carefree youth and whether it is problem of age or biology, waking in the darkness has been an issue. I was never afraid of the dark as a child. If anything, I have always been too sound of a sleeper, but this is changing as I age, and my need to wake and get out of bed have increased and in one or two incidents have become a bit dangerous. So far I tripped over my shoes, banged my head on the door post, and slipped on the bathroom rug. My wanderings in the dark haven’t been fun and as I admit this to you I feel foolish. I have been stubborn thinking I should be able to handle such a silly thing, but I need help. So, I got myself a night light. I haven’t had one since I was a child. As I mentioned above, I never had an issue with the dark before. It’s not bright enough to keep me from sleeping, but it is enough to lead me on my way when I arise in the midst of the darkness. It’s a kind of beacon showing me where to go. Of course, I have put my shoes away, so no more tripping and I have gotten a better rug for the bathroom floor (nonslip), but I have to say that this little nightlight is the best investment over all. Now I can see enough to make my way through the dark, but I guess I had to break down my pride a little to get it.

I don’t know where you find yourself as we enter the latter half of our Lenten journey. Are you wandering around in the dark? Are you meeting with obstacles as you try to make your way? May be its time to stop trying to be so self-sufficient or stubborn – Pride goeth before the fall…literally. Maybe it’s time to break down and let the light in to help you find your way. Jesus is that light, but in order for us to let him fill us with the light we yearn for, he needs us to put aside our pride and welcome him in. And when we do, he can make all the difference. No more stumbling in the dark. He who is light from light can and will do that for us. All we have to do is ask for his help. He will do the rest.

Happy Lent!

Fr. Steve 

Lead, Kindly Light, amidst the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Should lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow-rugged path,
Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith,
Home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

      Saint Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890)