4 Sunday

th

Cycle A
26 March 2017

I Sam. 16:1-13
Eph. 5;8-14
John 9:1-41
INTRODUCTION:
Both stories about the woman
at the well (last week) and
the man born blind (today)
convey historical events so
artfully done to convey even
2000 years after the
dynamics (process) of the
spiritual life (conversion)
INTRODUCTION:

Both encountered Jesus:

the former as living water that
satisfies forever;
the latter as light that gives
new vision.
1
The man is blind from birth.

In the Bible, sight is a metaphor for

spiritual vision or for faith. One who is in
sin does not see clearly. He does not get it.
His mind is obscured.
1

Therefore, the man born blind is every one

of us, born in the state of original sin.
Born like in a dysfunctional family, its
members are all affected by the
dysfunction. Their wills are twisted and
minds darkened.
1
Both living water and
now light is a metaphor
for grace or divine life.

At the creation, light was the first that was

brought forth (Gen. 1: 3)
1

In John's Prologue, whatever came to be found

Life in him which for humans was also Light
that shines in the dark, that darkness could
not overcome (Jn. 1:4-5)
1

We don't really see

the light by itself.
We see things by
the light.
Jesus is
the light by which
2
How was the
healing of the
man done?
"He spat on the ground, made
clay (mud) with the spittle and
rubbed the mud on the eyes of
the blind man." (v.6)
2 This gesture is customary
of the time. This mixture of
mud and Jesus' spittle for
St. Augustine is the
mixture of the human
and the divine in his
Incarnation and forms like
a healing salve or balm
rubbed into our sin sick
2

What is the point in

conversion but to bring
people into concrete and
lived contact with the
healing power of Jesus?
2
Then, Jesus told the
blind man: "Go and
wash into the Pool of
Siloam (which means
sent)." (v.7)
"The one who sends . . . and
is sent" in John's Gospel is a
favorite expression of Jesus
to indicate mission.
2

What does "wash in

the Pool" mean?
To
be baptized,
dipped into the
2
In Baptism, the one being
baptized is Chrismated, balmed
with oil like the blind man in the
story who is balmed with the
mud and spittle of Jesus and then
dipped into the water to be
washed.
2
What does this produce in the
man?
Vision!
He
finally gets it!

He, the
3
What is the result of this healing?

The people were divided if he was

the same man. Some said, "Yes, he is
the same man." Others said, "No but
only looks alike." The man himself said,
"I am the man!" (v. 8-9)
3
Yea, it is me alright, using the very
same words used by Jesus "I am. . .
Ego eimi" as Yahweh also identified
Himself in Exodus. The man who
has been dipped, baptized in
Jesus has become another
Christ.
3

Notice how the people reacted to

the healing made on the man born
blind! Do not be surprised
if people react negatively to the
conversion of the blind man
because when there are enough
people converted, change will
3
But there is always a
vested interest in
keeping people in sin
or in ignorance. When
even a saint or a pope
acts differently, people
react negatively!
CONCLUSION:

Note how the

story ends after
the blind man is
healed!
 CONCLUSION:

Jesus asked the blind man: "Do you believe in

the Son of God?" The man replied: "Tell me
who he is so I may believe." Jesus answered
him: "You are looking at him; he is speaking
to you." The man said, "Lord, I believe" and he
worshipped him. (v. 35-38)
CONCLUSION:

The man goes from blindness to spiritual

vision! He now gets it and sees!

That is also our

journey in Lent!

+ART