In today’s Gospel story (John 9:1-41) it doesn’t seem that the blind man comes to full faith immediately upon his healing. There must be some reason for this.
Well, this gospel story is an excellent example of an incident which
shows the faith of a person growing over time. Maybe this Lent you, you and your family, might take the time to read the entire Chapter 9 of St. John to gain the full impact of the story.
First, the man who had been blind since birth, that is for 38 years, told his neighbours that “the man called Jesus” healed him
(verse 11). Then later when asked by the Pharisees about who healed him, he says of Jesus “He is a prophet” (verse 17). Still later, when questioned by the Pharisees a second time, he tells them that Jesus is “from God” (verse 33).
Finally, the healed man comes to full faith when he encounters Jesus the second time; he declares to him, “Lord, I believe” and worshipped him (verse 38).
The underlying theme is clear: Jesus is the light of the world. Blindness is more than a reality of life for some persons. It is also a symbol for spiritual darkness. The blind man in our gospel story is brought from darkness into light only by Jesus. Tragically, the Jewish religious leaders are still living in darkness because they haven’t come to faith in Jesus; so they are spiritually blind.
Today this same tragic truth remains. Those who do not believe in Jesus are still living in darkness; they’re spiritually blind. But God loves to surprise us, as he did for the blind man in the gospel. So pray that God surprises an unbelieving world with the gift of faith; pray for a conversion of hearts from unbelieving stone to humble faith; and then live a Christian life that gives witness to the values of Jesus Christ. Nothing is impossible for God, who responds to all prayers that are in accord with his will.
Many believed in Jesus, like those who listened to the woman Jesus spoke to at the well, though very imperfectly – including the secret disciples of Jesus, the Pharisee Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Faith can grow if we nurture it with the Sacramental life provided by Jesus himself, his Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. (see CCC #595).
Well, this gospel story is an excellent example of an incident which
shows the faith of a person growing over time. Maybe this Lent you, you and your family, might take the time to read the entire Chapter 9 of St. John to gain the full impact of the story.
First, the man who had been blind since birth, that is for 38 years, told his neighbours that “the man called Jesus” healed him
(verse 11). Then later when asked by the Pharisees about who healed him, he says of Jesus “He is a prophet” (verse 17). Still later, when questioned by the Pharisees a second time, he tells them that Jesus is “from God” (verse 33).
Finally, the healed man comes to full faith when he encounters Jesus the second time; he declares to him, “Lord, I believe” and worshipped him (verse 38).
The underlying theme is clear: Jesus is the light of the world. Blindness is more than a reality of life for some persons. It is also a symbol for spiritual darkness. The blind man in our gospel story is brought from darkness into light only by Jesus. Tragically, the Jewish religious leaders are still living in darkness because they haven’t come to faith in Jesus; so they are spiritually blind.
Today this same tragic truth remains. Those who do not believe in Jesus are still living in darkness; they’re spiritually blind. But God loves to surprise us, as he did for the blind man in the gospel. So pray that God surprises an unbelieving world with the gift of faith; pray for a conversion of hearts from unbelieving stone to humble faith; and then live a Christian life that gives witness to the values of Jesus Christ. Nothing is impossible for God, who responds to all prayers that are in accord with his will.
Many believed in Jesus, like those who listened to the woman Jesus spoke to at the well, though very imperfectly – including the secret disciples of Jesus, the Pharisee Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Faith can grow if we nurture it with the Sacramental life provided by Jesus himself, his Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. (see CCC #595).
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