Darkness and light are two powerful images often used in cinema. The Bible has used these images as well: darkness is the absence of God, the realm of evil and Satan; light represents the kingdom of God where Jesus is the “light of the world.” In a similar way, blindness is symbolic of separation from God; vision is symbolic of wisdom or faith. This biblical association of darkness and evil was such a part of the Jewish religion that if a person were blind, i.e. literally living in darkness, it was assumed that person or family member was a sinner or evil.
In today’s Gospel John tells us that even the disciples believed this to be true. Jesus however has a greater understanding of the ways of God. When asked by the disciples as they approach a blind man: “who sinned, this man or his parents?”, Jesus replies that neither sinned, rather God allowed the man’s blindness so that “the works of God might be made visible through him,” i.e. to provide for this opportunity for Jesus to work a miracle, demonstrating the Father’s mercy and love!
Jesus also uses this opportunity to demonstrate the sin of spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. They had no visual impediments, in fact had witnessed many of Jesus’ miracles, yet refused to accept (see) Him as the messiah. Ironically, it is only the man whom the Pharisees considered a sinner because he lacked physical vision who can truly “see” (recognize) who Jesus is. “Do you believe in the Son of Man” the Lord asked? “I do believe Lord, and he worshiped him.” Sin lies in those who choose to stay “in the dark” instead of walk in the “light” of the knowledge of Christ.
Perhaps this would be a good time for a spiritual vision “checkup”. Have our fasting, penance, prayer and charitable works begun to clear up our “eyesight”? Do we see Jesus as the “light of the world”? Or have we allowed ourselves to remain in the darkness, blind to our sin and the presence of Jesus? This week might be a good time to pray, and ask for God’s Amazing Grace to touch the eyes of our heart, as he did the man in the gospel, so we too might “believe in Him”.
I invite you to check our special section for the Season of Lent and some of the opportunities we are offering at our parish to connect. I also encourage you to check our special section for our Lenten Message Series - More of Him, Less of Me. We also have weekly videos for you to watch too.
I invite you to check our special section for the Season of Lent and some of the opportunities we are offering at our parish to connect. I also encourage you to check our special section for our Lenten Message Series - More of Him, Less of Me. We also have weekly videos for you to watch too.