The Gospel for this Sunday (John 9: 1 – 25) reminds us that, in a sense, we are all “born blind”. None of us seem able to perceive either Truth, or Reality very clearly … just look around … there is more than enough evidence to support this sad fact.
These limitations are not to be blamed on any specific individual, however - in this passage, everyone wants to point fingers at the man’s parents, to explain why he is “different”. Parents take enough blame for all sorts of things in their children’s lives, without also being identified as the source of their sin; much less this affliction we call “original sin”!
John reminds us that Jesus is the “Light” that has come into the world, who enlightens everyone – he cures our blindness; he illuminates our lives; he unstops our ears; he sets the paralysed free; he heals us of our sin. That is The Good News of Easter.
All that seems to be required in order to share in this wonderful transformation is that we trust what Jesus says, obey his commands – “go and wash at Siloam” …. and rely on Jesus’ love and grace to do the rest!
When we relate to Jesus like this, unlike what happened to the man in our passage, or to so many others to whom Jesus ministered in equally dramatic ways, the outward differences may seem to be very small; but the effects in our living may render us just as unrecognisably “better” as they did that man.
The darkness of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday approaches.
Have we seen the Light dawning; and what difference does that make?
Blessings for the rest of Lent
Rod
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