JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

IV LENT SUNDAY - John 9:1-41

Preparing the catechumens in their journey of faith towards baptism, the Church uses the catechesis of the Gospel of John, in which we are presented with the symbols of baptism: the living water, the light and the life.

Jesus presents himself as the Light of the world. Before that light, we may react in different ways, accepting the light or rejecting it. This catechesis about Jesus as the Light of the world moves around the healing of a blind man and the reactions that followed.

It is their fault! But is it really?

First of all, we are presented with the situation of a man born blind. He seats all day and begs, being at the mercy of those who have a little compassion. He is seen as cursed and punished by God, because of his own sins or the sins of his parents. He is rejected by society, living like an outcast and he is blamed for it. It is a common trend that then poor and the oppressed are blamed for their suffering. It is their own fault, people say. We are very judgemental, easily condemning those who are in a worse situation than ourselves.

Jesus tells us that suffering and pain are not a sign of sinfulness on the side of those who are affected. Instead of accusing the blind man, Jesus approached him and relieved him of his suffering. The blind man stands for all those who are in darkness and look for light, that is for those who are in need of salvation, and cannot save themselves.

Jesus did most of the healing with just a word of command. In this case, however, Jesus used saliva and soil to make a little mud with which he anointed his eyes. Then, he told the man to go and wash his eyes; and as he did so, he started seeing. Salvation is a gift, which can only be received if we cooperate. In order to be saved, we must put in our own contribution. 

A journey of faith

The story of the blind man, like the story of the Samaritan woman, is a story of a journey of faith, presenting the different stages of that journey. When the man was questioned by his neighbours about the one who did his healing, he answered that it was a man called Jesus. Then, questioned by the Pharisees, he answered that the “man called Jesus” “is a prophet”. When they questioned him a second time, he told them that Jesus was a man “from God”, otherwise he would not be able to do anything. Finally, when Jesus revealed himself to him as the Son of Man, he worshipped him, saying: “Lord, I believe” (Jn 9:38). And he was expelled from the synagogue because of his faith.

Witnessing to Jesus before the world

We can look as well at the reaction of the other interveners in the story. His neighbours noticed the change in his life and realised that something miraculous had happened to him. Thinking it impossible that he could be healed, some could not accept that he was the same blind man. And all wanted to know how such wonder had happened. The blind man was truthful up to the end, always ready to answer and to give the reason for his healing. However, his neighbours, instead of going to Jesus, they went to report the case to the Pharisees, because Jesus did the healing on a Sabbath.

For the Pharisees, it was clear that Jesus was an impostor and a sinner because he did not keep the Sabbath. They could not explain the healing which had taken place, but they had all the answers and did not need to look somewhere else to find the truth. Unable to believe and doubting the truthfulness of the blind man, they questioned his parents. They were afraid and in fear, and so they answered without involving themselves.  After believing, the blind man finds himself alone with his own parents ignoring him.

The Pharisees were ready to pass judgement both on Jesus and on the blind man. The man was ready to give witness to Jesus, being ready for a discussion with the Pharisees, questioning their honesty: “I have told you already, and you would not listen”. And he does not accept their assertion that they are disciples of Moses. How can they be, if they behave like blind, refusing to see the obvious? Instead of accepting the truth, they preferred to exact punishment on him, expelling him from the synagogue.

Are we ready for a journey of faith like the blind man or are we like the Pharisees, who were blind to the surprises that God was doing in their midst? Are we full of pride, refusing to humble ourselves, so that we feel the touch of God in our lives? If we are blind, let us ask the one who is light to fill our minds and our hearts with his light.