The journey of a blind to new vision
Fr. Dr. Joshi Varghese, Bhilai
(Diocesan Education Officer & PRO, Calcutta Diocese)
Evening: St. Mark 10 : 46 – 52, Morning: St. Matthew 9 : 27-31, Before Holy Qurbana: Deut 25: 13- 16 & 26:1 – 13, Job 42: 1-10 Malachi 3:7-12 Holy Qurbana: I Pet 4: 12-19 II Cor 9 : 6-15 OR Eph 5 : 1-14
St. John 9: 1-41
One whole chapter of St. John is dedicated to the healing of a man who was blind from his birth. Though the other three gospel writers have mentioned about healing of the blind- healing of Bartimaeus ( Mk 10:46ff) / two blind men near Jericho ( Mt 20:29 ff , Lk 18:35 ff) – St. John had elaborated this unique event.
a. Be part of the solution not the problem
“His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (Jn9:2).
As the disciples travelled along with Jesus, they came across a blind man. They were travelling with their Master and like any other good student trying to impress their teacher; they tried to gain some ‘practical knowledge’. They came across a subject of study – a theological issue of sickness. It appears that they wanted to ponder over the theological aspects of suffering and sickness. They were very eager to know the cause of sickness. In their eagerness to unravel the age old mystery of suffering they forgot about the man and his real suffering. Once a building was on fire and as the people ran to put out the fire, there was one person who was trying to figure out what might have caused the fire. Instead of helping others to extinguish the fire, he was pondering how it might have started.
When we come across people in need or problematic situations how do we respond? Do we only just comment without trying to resolve it? Do our words/ deeds aggravate the situation? Or could we do our bit to resolve the problem. If we are not able to resolve it can we at least point towards Him who could handle the situation?
b. Beyond human comprehension
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (Jn 9:4).
Human mind, from age immemorial, has been grappling with the questions, ‘Why good people suffer?’ and ‘What causes sickness?. Illness was mainly viewed as wrath of God; punishment for the sins committed by the person or someone related to the person. It was believed that ‘the children would be punished for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation’ (Exodus 20:5, 34:7 & Numbers 14:18). The forty years of wilderness journey is also attributed to the sin of the ancestors (Num 14: 33). This belief is seen in the prophets also ( Jer32:18). By the time of Prophet Ezekiel this belief was put on the backburner and the prophet directed that it is wrong to claim that “the parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? (Ezk 18:2). He emphatically stated that “it is only the person who sins that shall die” (Ezk 18:4).
Jesus is opening a new dimension to the entire discourse. Though some diseases can be traced to sin (eg. Healing of the crippled -Lk 13: 10-17; paralytic - Mk 2: 1-12), it would be a folly to view all sick as sinners. We would not be able to comprehend or explain everything that happens in our lives. We need to trust Him and His ways. As St. Paul exclaims in Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” We need to remind ourselves that we are mere instruments in His mighty hands and we need to blindly trust His thoughts, which may not be our thoughts, and His ways, which may not be our ways’ (Is 55:8).
c. Attaining Spiritual Vison
Two miracles took place in the passage: the man got his sight and he attained spiritual vision. The initial opinion of the blind man, just after he received eyesight, was ‘Jesus is yet another person who performed miracle’. “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes”(9:11). As he discussed the healing incident with the Pharisees, he realised that Jesus may not be an ordinary man but a prophet; “He is a prophet.” (9:11). Later as the Pharisees tried to prod him more, he understood that Jesus is bigger than a prophet, he is from God ” (9:33). The 2ndconfrontation with Jesus made him realise that Jesus ‘is Lord and he worshiped him’(9:38).
There are many who view Jesus as a good human being or as a good teacher. They are happy to follow some of the teachings of Jesus, especially related to social living. Some others place him on the pedestal of a ‘prophet’; a social leader/ reformer like Mahatma Gandhi or prophetMohammed. There are also a few who are willing to treat him as a demigod or even as one among many gods like Budhha. When we interact with people who have these blurred visions about Jesus (Jesus as only a teacher or social leader or a minor god) it is our duty to humble and gently help them to have a complete vision about Christ. The conversations with the Pharisees, who were reluctant to believe and accept Jesus, helped the blind to grow in his realisation about Christ and ultimately he could gain a proper spiritual vision. Our dialogues with people of other faith would help them and ourselves to have a clear vision about God.
Conclusion
Jesus has a mission. He is obliged to fulfill. That mission is to be the "Light of the world ". This is the mission we the disciples share with him. Our circumstances are an opportunity to shine brightly for the lord and share God's overcoming truth with those around us. Let us be that light to those around us.
Keep shining. The world needs your Light.
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