Healing the Man Born Blind
In the Gospel for the 6th Sunday of Lent, the Church reads the entirety of John Chapter 9 (John 9:1-41). In this chapter, Jesus sees a man who is born blind. Upon seeing the blind man, Jesus emphasizes to His disciples that “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (v. 3-5). Upon seeing the blind man, Jesus spat into the ground to make mud and anointed the man’s eyes with the mud. After the blind man washed in the pool of Siloam, he was able to see. And at the end of the Gospel, when asked by the Lord if he believes He is the Son of God, he replies “Lord, I believe.” (v. 38)
The Man born blind lived in darkness, washed in a body of water, saw light for the first time, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God. This is symbolic of Baptism and Chrismation–death to the world followed by enlightenment from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Sixth Sunday of Lent is known as “Baptism Sunday,” and many of the liturgical readings relate to baptism.
The Pauline Epistle is from Colossians 3:5-17. In this reading, St. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to put to death earthly desires. Subsequently, St. Paul encourages the Corinthians, as Christians, to put on Godly virtues (kindness, meekness, love, to name a few) (v. 12-14), let the peace of Christ rule their hearts (v. 15), and to let the Word of Christ dwell in their hearts (v. 16). Finally, St. Paul emphasizes how the church is one: “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all” (v. 11). Through this reading, the Church emphasizes that the Church is One Body and as Christians, we are representatives of Christ everywhere: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (v. 17).
The Catholic Epistle this Sunday is from 1 John 5:13-21. In this passage, St. John reminds us that as Christians, we are not to sin and are reminded Earth is ruled under the evil one. Particularly relevant to today’s Gospel, however, St. John writes “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (v. 20). Just as the Blind Man was gifted the ability to see light and the Light of the World, in Baptism, we are granted the gift of being in Communion with Christ. This reading emphasizes that Baptism is a gift that Christ has granted us.
Another important takeaway from this Gospel is how the miracle of healing the man born blind upset the Pharisees. First, because Jesus healed the blind man on Saturday and violated the Sabbath commandment. Then, because they did not know how to believe that a “sinner” and a “transgressor” of the Sabbath can do such a wonderful work of God! The prejudices of religious leaders blinded them from understanding Jesus’ assertion that He is the One, sent from the Father to bring people freedom and light.
What a contrast of light and darkness, belief and disbelief! The cured man accepted Jesus readily, yet the religious leaders, who should know who He is, rejected Him. As St. Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of the faith of Jesus; but Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.” (Romans 9:30-31)
May the readings of this week serve as a reminder of the gift of Baptism–a gift that is open to all who accept.
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