Fourth Sunday of Lent
“Just because we have eyes, does not mean we see!” We are in the midst of a global pandemic. We now know that there are those who saw the pandemic coming, there are those who did not see it coming, there are those saw it coming but did not want see it coming, and there are those who even though it is here, do not want to see that it has come. Take for example the spring-breakers in Miami, Florida. In a news segment, a college student said, “We have more important problems like poverty and hunger. Let’s address that!” Another college student said, “The virus is coming in the way of my spring break.” Yet another student said, “I have planned this spring break for a very long time. It won’t stop me from partying!” The question that many people are asking is, “How can they not see?” And my answer is, “Just because we have eyes, does not mean we see!”
On this the fourth Sunday of Lent, we hear a poignant story from the gospel of John about a blind man who finally came to see, and people who had eyes but were blind. This story is not merely the story of one man born blind who then miraculously gained his sight. It is the story of human redemption. It is your story and mine. Here are my three practical implications.
- What do we see? The healing of the man born blind is one of those miracles which where Jesus takes the initiative. There are numerous healings in the gospels where people come and ask Jesus to heal them. Not in this case. Jesus’ saw the blind man and his disciples asked him the question, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” What did the disciples see? They saw a blind man. What did society see? They saw a blind beggar. What did Jesus’ opponents see? They saw a sinner! What did Jesus see? Jesus saw a human person! Jesus saw God’s glory about to be manifest! Jesus saw the world moving closer toward redemption. As we experience a global pandemic unparalleled in recent history, perhaps we need to see with the eyes of Jesus. This is the time to see the face of God in every human person. This is the time to give up our prejudices and, like Jesus, work toward the redemption of all humanity. This is the time to set aside self-interest and, like Jesus, devote ourselves to the good of others. None of us sees fully. Each one of us has some area where we are blind. This is the time to allow Jesus to open the eyes of our hearts!
- Who do we see? At the beginning of story of the man born blind, the blind man sees nothing. He does not even know that the Savior of the world has cast his eyes upon him. He truly is blind. As the story progresses, from having his eyes opened, he gradually comes to see Jesus as the Messiah and makes a profession of faith. From knowing nothing about Jesus, he makes a confession of faith saying, “I do believe, Lord!” It was not an easy journey. He was opposed, threatened, and abandoned! He also saw Jesus being opposed, threatened, and plotted against. Yet, when his eyes finally saw the Messiah, he knew that he had come home. We are in the midst of a global pandemic. How do we see now? Who do we see now? What does our faith mean now? Who is God to us now? Like the man whose sight was restored, let us see Christ among us. May we find God in our midst. This week as you find yourself confined to your homes and with your family, may you be led to a profession of faith. May it be, “I do believe, Lord!”
- How do we see? There are different groups of people in the story of the man born blind. There were the disciples, the neighbors of the blind man, his parents, and finally, Jesus opponents. Each of the groups of people saw Jesus from their own perspective. However, only the man healed of his blindness saw things the way they should be seen. Yes, he had regained his sight, but he was seeing from a very different place. He saw differently. He saw with the eyes of the heart – the eyes of faith. Like the man born blind, these are times when we must look at the world, our church, and our loved ones with a very different set of eyes – the eyes of the heart, the eyes of faith! In spite of how things seem, God is still our Savior. Darkness has been overcome by light. Evil has been vanquished. Death has been defeated. God is with us now more than ever! It is in moments like these we confess, “I do believe, Lord!”
Let me end today’s homily with words from today’s second reading:
“Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:8-9).
- Fr. Satish Joseph