FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
(1 Samuel 16:1-6, 10-13; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41)
The Gospel of John is full of drama. Several times in the
narrative Jesus encounters different people in order to lead them to his
Father. Last Sunday we heard about his successful encounter with the Samaritan
woman. But he is not always successful. When he meets Pilate on the day of his
crucifixion, the governor is intrigued by his words, but in the end he rejects
him for political convenience.
Today we hear about Jesus’ encounter with the man born
blind. It is a first-class drama. In fact, it is often considered one of the
best-constructed narratives in the entire Gospel. It stands out because of its well-developed plot.
With its twists and turns we see the man gradually growing in faith in Jesus.
At the same time, the Pharisees gradually lose their faith in him. The loss is
tragic because it will deprive the Pharisees of eternal life.
The reading begins with Jesus curing the man born blind by
putting mud on his eyes. The healing causes so much discussion among the
neighbors that they ask the man whether he is really the one who had been blind
and how he was healed. The man replies that yes, he was blind, and that he was
cured by “the man called Jesus.”
Amazed by what he says, the neighbors bring the man to the
Pharisees to verify his account. After their investigation, the Pharisees are
divided. Some say it is a legitimate healing—that is, something done by
God—while others doubt it. When they ask the man how he received his sight, he
again says that Jesus cured him, but this time he adds that Jesus is a prophet.
Then the Pharisees question the man’s parents whether he is
truly their son and how it is that he now sees. They acknowledge that he is
their son, but out of fear of the Pharisees they say they do not know how he
was healed. They suggest asking him directly.
When they question him a second time, the Pharisees are no
longer in doubt about Jesus. They all agree in saying that Jesus “is a sinner,”
and they throw the man out for saying otherwise.
It is no coincidence that Jesus meets again the man born
blind but now with perfect sight. He is the Good Shepherd who cares about mistreated
sheep. When Jesus sees him, he asks whether he believes in the Son of Man, that
is the one in the Book of Daniel who receives from God authority to judge the
world. At first the man hesitates because he does not know whom Jesus is
referring to. But once Jesus identifies himself as the Son of Man, the man falls
at his feet in worship.
Meanwhile the Pharisees are watching everything. They ask
Jesus if they are blind. Jesus tells them that although they have sight, they
do not see the truth. They walk in spiritual darkness that prevents them from
recognizing what is truly good.
At the beginning of this drama Jesus calls himself “the
light of the world.” Like every light, he creates shadows. The characters in
the story must decide whether they want to live in the light by recognizing
Jesus as Lord or in darkness by denying his authority. The man born blind opts for the light of Christ,
while the Pharisees choose the shadows by rejecting his lordship.
Every human person must make the same decision. Am I a person
of the light of Christ, living according to every word that comes from his
mouth? Or am I a person of the shadows who follows the leading “influencers” of
the world of entertainment, sports, or the internet? For our good and for the good of others,
Jesus wants us to live in his light.
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