Jesus returns his sight (Jn 9:1-4
Have you ever met someone very happy because he confessed years later? And have you ever encountered the indifference that the nearest didn’t care? And you certainly know people who distort morality, and Christian ethics and look at sin in the wrong way. Yes, it happens. It is right when we can find time and listen to a homily on such a topic, and not only listen but apply its words correctly and to our benefit and benefit in our lives.
We should not overlook the words of Jesus: “I came into this world to judge: that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (Jn 9, 39).
These words are spoken by Jesus at the end of a long passage about the healing of a man blind from birth, who not only gains sight but also faith in Christ. The Pharisees took a different attitude towards Jesus, to whom Jesus says: “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But you say: “We see.” And so your sin remains” (John 9:41). The man blind from birth whom Jesus meets does not ask for healing, nor does Jesus ask him if he wants to see. The blind man in the gospel is simply there to show the power of God on him. It is necessary to realize how gradually a seeing person turns into a believer. At first, he simply obeys Jesus, although he does not understand why Jesus tells him: “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,” which translates as Sent. He went, washed, and returned seeing” (Jn 9:7). Then in its simplicity the spirit acts. He knows nothing about the man who healed him. When questioned by the Pharisees, he calls the one who healed him a prophet. And while his parents are afraid to confess the truth in front of the Pharisees, the healed man is not afraid to ask the Pharisees: “Do you also want to become his disciples” (Jn 9:27)? And because of his behavior, which does not suit the Pharisees, he is banished. Here he meets Jesus, who heals him. Jesus introduces himself to him, and subsequently, he is healed and bows down to Jesus.
The closer Jesus gets to his death on the cross, the more intense his relationship with his enemies, the Pharisees. So it is with this miracle, one of the seven that Jesus performed. The event happened on Saturday, that’s why there is so much opposition from the Pharisees towards the healed man. However, a courageous person is healed. He sees the hostile attitude of the Pharisees towards Jesus, and despite this, he takes the side of Jesus, although he has to leave the synagogue. Man is the type ofpepperswho believes in Jesus, even if they cannot justify their faith with rational evidence. The words of Pascal apply to them: “The heart has reasons that reason does not know.” The parents of the blind man cannot be said to be brave. Precisely because of the exclusion from the synagogue, that they may lose their property, they let their son speak for himself: “He has his years, let him speak for himself” (John 9:23). Jesus foretold to the disciples that times would come when when “they are expelled from the synagogue” (Jn 16:2). The behavior and attitude of the Pharisees towards Jesus is permeated with hatred. They close their eyes to the truth. Neither cursing, nor insulting the opponents, and finally not even their violence will help them to win their truth. A lie is always a lie.
In the event of the healing of the blind man, we find more truths: Jesus is always faithful to the person who remains faithful to him. Another truth is that faithfulness always brings enlightenment. It may also cause the persecution of bad people, but the reward of faithfulness is always an intimate friendship with Jesus and a deeper knowledge of his person and his love.
Every encounter with Jesus is connected with judgment, namely, our attitude towards Jesus is our judgment of ourselves. When we see nothing in Jesus that we should love, and admire, then we condemn ourselves. If we see in Jesus someone worthy of admiration and love, then we are on the way to God. We see our weaknesses, but we have eyes that we can open even more and penetrate deeper into the truth. If we are not aware of our weaknesses and shortcomings, we are truly blind. He who begins to realize his weaknesses can become strong. It follows that only the person who is aware of his sinfulness can receive forgiveness. It is necessary to live with the knowledge that we are responsible for the talents of God. The Pharisees were not brought up in ignorance, and therefore they are condemned. They knew about the Messiah, and yet they did not accept him. A reminder of responsibility for the privileges we have.
The event of the healing of the blind man and subsequent events point to the words: “Light came into the world, and people loved darkness more than light because their deeds were evil” (John 4:19). People live in darkness when their deeds are evil. Whoever turns his face away from Christ, chooses darkness, does what God does not like. Whoever wants to live in sin seeks darkness, and flees from the Light – Christ, “so that his deeds are not revealed” (John 2:20). Sin can so blind the eyes that a person loses the concept of beauty, goodness, hardens, becomes alienated from people and himself, and especially from God. He who loves the filth of his sins cannot love Christ. He flees from Christ because the Crucified One disturbs him and reminds him that man must be a child of God and not of the devil. Every sinner is blind because he does not see where good, and happiness is, and the smell of mud is more fragrant to him than the smell of a flower.
On the contrary, whoever turns his face to Christ, heals him from eventual blindness. That is why let us become apostles, Christians, brothers and sisters who are not indifferent to the soul of a brother or sister from the neighborhood, who are in sin and are blind. Our prayers, a personal example, but also conversations and tough, serious ones, must be used to help the blind soul to meet his Redeemer – Jesus.
They lived together for twenty-five years. They trusted each other. They were both attractive. She was sure that she was still his love. He had a position that made him lead a double life. When he was in his fifties, she got hold of evidence of her husband’s infidelity. She couldn’t handle it mentally. From treatment, he writes a letter to his cousin, who is a practicing Christian, asking for advice and help. In response, she read: “I see a solution. Stop limping on two sides. Make a decision for God once and for all, find a priest to whom you can open your heart and listen to what he tells you.” She followed the advice. She recovered, and the marriage was restored, but since then they no longer build their security on human foundations. She found Christ. Today she knows where she made mistakes and unhealthy compromises. She only cares about being with her man in eternity. She doesn’t blame him for infidelity, she started living again and differently.
Through us, as his instrument of love, Jesus calls us to lend a hand to those blinded by sin and help them find the right path. If the physically blind needs a helping hand, the one who has lost God in his heart through sin needs it even more. He who is in sin is blind because he does not see good. God will also allow the cross to fall upon us because then we become more receptive, ore and earlier we find time for God, for prayer. It is in the cross that many regain their sight. Let us receive those who return to Christ as the prodigal son with understanding and love as a father from the Gospel and not as an older brother.
If we are healthy, if our soul sight is not diseased, we still live in the awareness that we are threatened and should be vigilant. We must not expose ourselves to the loss of sanctifying grace, let us experience friendship with Jesus more and more with joy. When we do not underestimate prevention in the area of bodily health, it is all the more right that we pay attention to the prevention of the soul from any sin.
Ján already knows today that he mustn’t tell himself that nothing bad can happen to him, that he doesn’t need God or anyone to advise him, help him, confess his transgressions to someone for a happy life, even more so he doesn’t need priests, confession, a church. He was, they say, a strong man. Admired. Flighted. This was the reason why he did not estimate as much as he can, what he can afford, what is the limit of possibility, and later also the limit of decency, etiquette, ethics, morals, and lity. Today he knows that he is not a friend as a friend. He was disappointed especially by those who tapped him on the shoulder, who ran up to him, who only saw his body, who mocked him, who took advantage of him, and when they gave him something, it was just another step into the mire of human indignity and betrayal of God’s sonship. Today he thanks God that those he called parasites of society, dark people, and sanctimonious people took care of him. Today he is one of us, and yet with rich experience,
We also have many similar experiences. That is why even today we feel in Jesus’ words: “I came into this world to judge: that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (Jn 9:39), the relevance of today’s society and us personally.
That is why we give thanks for every sacrament of reconciliation, where Christ – the doctor of our souls – gives us a healthy perspective on life. That’s why even today we don’t want to stay only with the words we heard, but already at mass we pray for the light of the Holy Spirit: what, where, and how to act in faith
