I Was Blind, and Now I See
Listening the Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.
Listening the Word: John 9:1-41
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him, and
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Reflection
Today is a special Sunday for Lent. The Church uses the color rose, a softer color during this penitential season. It is a small sign of joy and hope. Lent is a journey of conversion, but today the Church reminds us that the light of Easter is drawing near. Even in the midst of the desert, God grants us a moment to remember that salvation is close.Today's readings speak of seeing with God's eyes and living in the light.
In the first reading, the prophet Samuel goes to the house of Jesse to choose a new king for Israel. When Samuel sees the firstborn sons, he thinks that one of them must be chosen because they seem strong and important. But God tells him something very profound: "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
This phrase is very important for our lives. We often judge people by what we see, their position, their success, their appearance, their reputation. But God sees beyond that. God sees the heart, the intentions, the truth of the person. The one chosen by God is not the strongest or the most impressive. It is David, the youngest son, a simple shepherd who wasn't even present at the beginning. In the eyes of the world, he was the least important, but in the eyes of God, he was the chosen one.This reminds us that God often works in simple and unexpected ways. People who seem insignificant or go unnoticed can be those through whom God accomplishes great things.
The Gospel continues this theme with the story of the man born blind. When the disciples see him, they ask the common question: Who sinned? In their minds, the suffering must have a reason or be a punishment. But Jesus responds in a completely different way. He doesn't focus on guilt. Instead, he says that through this situation, the works of God can be revealed.
Then Jesus heals the man. He makes mud, puts it on his eyes, and tells him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys and returns seeing.But what is most surprising is what happens after the miracle. The man who was blind begins to see clearly, but many around him remain spiritually blind. The Pharisees question him, doubt him, and ultimately reject him. They are so certain they already know the truth that they cannot recognize God's action before their very eyes.
The man who was blind doesn't know everything about Jesus. His faith grows step by step. First, he says, "The man called Jesus." Then he says, "He is a prophet." Finally, when Jesus appears to him again and asks if he believes in the Son of Man, he simply replies, "I believe, Lord," and worships him.This is the true miracle of the Gospel. Not only the opening of physical eyes, but the opening of the heart and of faith.
On this joyful Sunday, the color pink reminds us that even in the midst of difficulties, the light of Christ already shines. The Lord continues to open our eyes, guiding us like the Good Shepherd of the psalm and leading us toward the fullness of life.Let us ask the Lord today for the grace to see with a new heart, to walk as children of the light, and to recognize his presence in the simple and hidden places of our daily lives.Then each of us will be able to say, “I was blind, and now I see.”
