The Struggle of Light and Darkness

- Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

While all of the Gospels records the fact that Jesus gave sight to the blind, it is curious to note that there are no stories of such cures in the Hebrew Scriptures.  The only instance that even comes close is recorded in the Book of Tobit, one of the books contained in the Roman Catholic canon, but not included in the Hebrew or Protestant Bibles.  This fact explains one of the statements in St. John's story of the man born blind: It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.  (John 9:32)  (Joh(((          

The story of the healing Tobit and the healing stories in the synoptic Gospels also differ from St. John's story in that they are stories of Jesus restoring the sight.  In John's story, the man is given sight for the first time.  This fact and the explicit reference to clay made from Jesus' spittle nuance this story as a story of creation rather than of healing. 

The discussion that Jesus has with the man and with some of the Pharisees at the end of the story also indicate that this sign, one of seven in St. John's Gospel, is about more than the physical sense of sight.  St. John is pointing to a common human situation; namely, the inability to see beyond our preconceived notions and prejudices. 

All of us are blind in certain situations.  We commonly refer to this fact as "a blind spot."  Those who are aware that they have such blind spots will seek help from another observer, asking for a different perspective, a different viewpoint than their own.  Such people realize that they are sometimes blinded by their biases, that they are sometimes unable to get beyond their usual perspective.  To be sure, the Pharisees in chapter nine of St. John's Gospel are unable to see beyond their staunchly held position that healings such as this should not take place on the Sabbath.  "Making clay" of his spittle is, by their definition, work, work that is prohibited on the Sabbath.

The gradual development of the man's faith in this story displays another kind of human blindness.  Gradually the man moves from his opinion that Jesus is a holy man to being a prophet and finally to being the "Son of Man."  This title is used of the one who sits in judgment of the world; and while it is not a title of divinity, the Gospel clearly indicates that the man moves from that title to an a realization that Jesus is divine.  He said, "I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him.  (John 9:38)  

All of us have probably had a similar experience.  Situations which may have been viewed in one way suddenly become visible in a different light.  As the "light" of experience, either personal or shared by another person, comes to bear on our previously held opinion, we change our minds, expand our horizons, and look at things differently. 

Clearly, St. John's story is also related to the light that we gain in baptism.  The early Church referred to the sacrament as "enlightenment."  Through the sacred bath of baptism, the early Christian community believed that God imparted the light of divine Wisdom, a light which helps us to see beyond the human sphere and into the divine. 

Thus the story is fitting preparation for our Easter celebration at which we will be asked to renew our baptismal promises.  We will wash away the grime and mud of our sins and let the light of Christ shine once again in our lives.  Our Lenten journey asks us to wash away the accumulated baggage of sin so that we, like the man born blind, may come to believe in the Lord Jesus.