Sorry that this is late. I got caught up in so many things this past week and I didn't post this one.
___________________________________________________
John 9:1-38

Kontakion
With eyes spiritually blind I come to Thee, O Christ, as did he who was blind from birth, and penitentially cry unto Thee, Thou art the shining light of them that are in darkness.

Isaiah 9:2 RSVCE

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

The Kontakion reminded me of the verse from Isaiah. When we are spiritually blind, we walk in darkness even when we can see physically. How is this possible? What is the darkness and what is the light that the Church wants us to gain an understanding of in this Sunday’s theme?

Jesus said “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.”

Manifest means “readily perceived by the senses and especially by the sight; easily understood or recognized by the mind; obvious.”

We all have some imperfection in our biological being. We’re made that way. Recognizing limitations of this sort helps us remember that we are not here forever and that we will break down. The man mentioned in the Gospel was born blind from birth. He had never seen a sunrise or sunset. He had never experienced how pleasant a sunny day with a nice breeze and spring flowers popping up could be. We take vision for granted, even when we hear this Gospel passage. But sometimes we fail to appreciate the things that we do see. We get used to them and take them for granted. In a sense, then, we can walk in darkness even when we can physically see.

How does this story about the blind man being given his sight make the works of God manifest--obvious? Do blind eyes ordinarily become suddenly able to see? Or is it the other way around—that people hear more stories of people slowly losing their sight, never to recover it despite the best efforts of medical science? What does it take for me to see the obvious works of God around me? In me? In those around me?

How is this related to spiritual blindness? Is spiritual blindness related to our taking so much for granted? Do we truly experience the Light of Christ active in our lives? How so? Is spiritual blindness related to our human tendencies to forgive ourselves for so much that is sinful—remember Jesus’ warning about taking the log out of our own eye before trying to take the speck out of the eye of our brother? Is spiritual blindness related to our tendency to disbelieve that God can do miraculous things for us if we but have faith? Jesus was unable to perform many miracles in his own hometown because everyone thought they knew him—had an intimate knowledge of Him; knew Him inside and out. Is it possible that the miracles mentioned in the Gospels don’t happen today because we don’t have enough faith? Or any real faith?

The prayer before the Gospel begins, “Illumine our hearts, O Master who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Thy Gospel teachings.”

How is this prayer aimed at a different kind of light than sunlight or light bulb light? Is it possible that people can hear and even read the Gospel without really coming to know what Jesus intended to teach? Does this say something to us about the idea that the Gospel is a product of the Church, and as such, should be interpreted as the Church interprets it?

The man born blind was created that way so “that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” What is this about? Does God make some people more imperfect than others so that His working in creation might be obvious to us? How so? Can this be linked to our own compassion for the infirmities of others? Do the works of God come through us when we serve the poor, the sick, the homebound, the imprisoned?

Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. In Him there is no darkness. In His Church there is pure teaching. Have I availed myself of the pure light available in the Church, especially in light of the fact that Jesus promised to be with His Church to the end of the age?

The Church is the teacher given to us by Christ for our enlightenment, for our nourishment, for our participation in the Divine Life offered in the Mysteries. In the Church we find the enlightenment that Christ offers to His People, to those who are being saved. Am I allowing the Church to help me “get it”? Or am I one of the ones who sits, listens, and argues inside and publicly with all that the Church, through the clergy sent by Christ, propose for my belief?