Deacon Larry

February 28, 2008

Fourth Sunday of Lent

1 Sam 16: 1, 6-7, 10-13; Eph 5: 8-14:

Jn 9: 1-41

Dc. Larry Brockman

The English Poet Ralph Hodgson once said:  “Some things have to be believed to be seen”.  Consider the Blind man in today’s Gospel.  Jesus gave the blind man two precious gifts:  First, he gave him physical sight.  This brought much joy to him-  finally, he was able to add color and texture and context to the sounds and words and touches that had been his only experience of the world since birth. 

It’s hard for all of us, sighted since birth, to appreciate what a gift that was.  Because we are blind ourselves to the fruits of that gift.  We take it for granted- the visual symphony of the sky and landscape; the subtle meanings expressed by body language; the look of love you receive from loved ones.  Imagine the joy this man felt when his eyes were opened.  But this man was given a second gift- spiritual sight.  He was given the gift of faith. 

The Pharisees and Priests of that time were much feared.  There was no secret to their opposition to Jesus.  The Gospel story makes that very clear.  It is also clear that the blind man’s parents feared the Pharisees.  They didn’t stand up to the Pharisees out of that fear.  But the Blind man recognized his second gift, and put it into practice.  First, he prostrated himself to Jesus, and worshiped him.  This man had been given faith- a conversion of the heart.  Then, he proved his faith by standing up to the powerful Pharisees despite any consequences.  Indeed, he knew that no matter what they did to him, they couldn’t take away the two gifts of sight that Jesus gave him.  He could physically see, yes; but he could also see spiritually.  He believed and so he could see. 

 Not so the Pharisees.  What was important to them were the laws of Moses- no working on the Sabbath; no healing on the Sabbath.  In other words, their lives were structured to occur within boundaries. And those strict boundaries are like a certain blindness.  They are blindness to change, to challenge, to growth; blindness to a vibrant, living light that leads to a richer understanding of God, one that leads to a personal relationship with Him and the joy and light at the end of that tunnel that goes with it.  They could not see the light beyond the darkness of their own blindness. 

When you think about it, all people, including the Pharisees, are given two gifts by God.  First, the gift of life itself, symbolized by physical sight in the Gospel.  But also, the gift of Spiritual life, symbolized by faith in God.  For us, that second gift is faith in Jesus Christ.  And along with that second gift of believing, comes the spiritual insight we need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus.  But, our first gift, the gift of life, tends to blind us to the spiritual gift.  The pleasures and cares of our first gift, life upstage the need for our spiritual sight.  And so, we are blind.  We want to be popular; we want to be successful; we want to be comfortable.  These things take up all of our time and efforts, so that we are blind to the second gift- blind to the importance of spiritual sight, because life here is not what life is all about. 

There are two things that you can do to pursue the second gift.  First, you must strengthen your faith.  No matter what happens to you physically and in a worldly sense, never falter in your faith in God- faith that God exists, that he loves you, and that he has the best in mind and in store for you.  Second, show that faith to others.  That confirms to God that your faith is not just in “fair weather”, but is lasting.  We are used to hearing stories about people who were martyred for their faith.  But that‘s just one way to show faith.  All of you that are here have been given the grace of a long life.  Your families and friends see in you a history that prefigures their own destiny.  You can demonstrate to them that your faith is strong and vibrant no matter what your age or condition.  That can do much in helping them to keep their faith.  Indeed, you can help them to understand that “Some things have to be believed to be seen”   

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