Gospel of John, chapter 9:7

The story of the cure of the man born blind (John 9:1-41) is also a story about spiritual blindness. A blind beggar draws Jesus’ attention. Jesus gives him elaborate directions, which the blind man follows, and he comes back seeing. All he knows is that once he could not see and now he sees.

His neighbors take him to the Pharisees. This was standard operating procedure at that time. So far, so good. But then things turn sour. The educated and religiously sophisticated Pharisees cross-examine the poor fellow. Rather than rejoicing in his newfound vision, they castigate him for violating the Sabbath. The Pharisees are spiritually blind, and they cannot see beyond their fanatical obsession with the details of the law.

There is a lot of back and forth in this story, and in the end, the blind man stands alone. His parents are cowed and bullied by the Pharisees who are like blind teachers teaching the blind. In their confusion, the parents do not speak up for their son. The establishment condemns him. The man born blind is thrown out of the temple, that vital center of Jewish life.

Then Jesus comes to him. Of course he does. He asks simple and direct questions of the man, and the man answers simply and directly. In the end, faith is added to physical sight as the man who was once blind sees: “I do believe Lord.”

Many people go through life with eyes, but they see not. They are spiritually blind. Often, they are blinded by their own greed, arrogance, attachment to possessions or by hypocrisy like the Pharisees. What is your blind spot? What do you have to pluck out of your life, so that you can see? The Lord is waiting to help you; to bless you with His gift of spiritual sight. Let Him help you.

Fr. Hugh Duffy

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