The Fourth Sunday of Lent

(As per last Sunday, today’s liturgy provides two choices for readings. I have chosen this one because it contains one of the most remarkable stories in all the Gospel accounts. It also ultimately offers a response to last week’s question posed so anxiously by the Samaritan people: “Could this be the Christ?”Again, I recommend you read this Gospel account in full before reading this reflection. The full text can be found in Jn. 9:1-41)

Today’s Gospel is the story of a man born blind.

Of course, it could be argued, that every one of the gospels is ultimately a story about blindness, since spirituality is essentially all about the ability to see – to see at a much deeper level; to see beyond inherited prejudices and biases; to see through issues like skin color and nationality; to see past rules and regulations.

As St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading,

“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light, for light produces every kind of goodness.”

But today’s gospel is different in its presentation of blindness. It’s different because it isn’t presented as just another story.

It’s dramatized. It’s theater – even great theater!

So much so, in fact, that the early Christian community acted this gospel story out in the sanctuary of the church as a way of helping catechumens prepare for their new journey – a passage out of darkness into light, out of blindness into sight.

Look carefully, if you will, at all the characters involved in this great drama presented by this gospel story. Then listen to the dramatic lines they get to say. Now pretend for a moment that you are auditioning for a role in this theater production.

Which character would be a natural fit for you?

Would it be the man “blind from birth”?

Would it be one of the townspeople who talk among themselves about him, some saying they knew him, others saying they’re not too sure?

Would it be one of the Pharisees who refuses to see what’s right in front of his eyes, so they resort to accusations, and judgments, and righteous indignation?

Would it be one of the parents of the blind man who are so afraid of the Pharisees and what they would do to them that they don’t want to get involved, even to the point of saying about their own son: “He’s of age; ask him”?

Or would it be the blind man himself after he is able to see?

Which one of these roles best fits you? Or have you played them all at some point in your life?

But notice: This great piece of drama doesn’t just have some interesting roles to play. It also presents each one of us with at least three major themes or teaching points:
Theme #1: All of us are born blind. All of us must have our eyes opened.

All along, then, the main character in this tale is really you and me. The whole point to “growing up,” to arriving at a place of maturity is to gain the ability to see – to see with a new set of eyes; to see with a sense of wisdom and discernment.

For example, notice the progression of the blind man’s insight into who Jesus is.
He begins by telling everyone “the man called Jesus” brought him sight. Later, he tells the Pharisees “it is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.” So, he tells them, he must not be just a man, but a prophet. Finally, in the last scene of this drama, the man born blind realizes that Jesus is the Son of Man and falls to his knees and worships him.

Theme #2: The blind man never asks for anything. It is freely given to him. His sight is gift. He didn’t have to do anything to “deserve” it.

What this tale is telling each of us once again is that the major point to Jesus’ life and teaching is: we are already loved; we are already treasured and cherished.

We don’t have to gain or merit God’s lavish love for us. It’s already a fait accompli.
God is Love, as John’s gospel tells us repeatedly. This great drama of today’s gospels is another magnificent demonstration of just how abundant that love is.

Furthermore, our response to the depth of that love is one of joy at experiencing the “good news,” as well as profound gratitude at being so cherished. Our moral code, then, becomes one of living lives that demonstrate how much we relish the profusion of God’s love for us. It’s about allowing the passion of God’s friendship with us to overflow into a mixture of joy and gratitude and service.

Theme #3: Those who know little, who always assume the role of learner (the true meaning of the word “disciple”), will learn much. They, like the man in the gospel, will fall to their knees and listen with their hearts.

Each of us was born blind. Our life journey, our spiritual goal is one of having our eyes opened so that we can join the man in today’s gospel who is awed by the miracle of it all, and who then falls to his knees in joy and gratitude.

In doing so, he answers the question the woman at the well, her fellow Samaritans, and so many others down through the ages have asked with passionate hearts:
“Could this be the Messiah”?

The man born blind answers this question powerfully with both his words and his whole body as he falls to his knees and proclaims:
“I do believe, Lord.”

Then, the Gospel of John tells the Samaritans and the rest of us who have been seeking the Lord down through the ages,

“he worshiped him.”

Ted Wolgamot, Psy. D.