[ Today's Readings ]
Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.
Christ wants to give us light and open our eyes just as he does for the man born blind. In many ways we too are born blind, with eyes and minds darkened by sin. We run off in pursuit of what seems right or good to us. We justify it by erroneous thought. But Jesus wants to touch our eyes, to open them, and to restore us in the waters of baptism.
Witnessing this transformation is a naturally fearful thing for those who choose to remain in the darkness. They look for excuses to condemn Jesus rather than to accept his healing. We may not know enough to fully explain everything about Jesus. But we all have testimony to share.
We know that this man is a sinner."
He replied,
"If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see."
Jesus still heals today. He still transforms. And he is still controversial.
Then Jesus said,
"I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind."
Jesus heals hearts, minds, souls, and even bodies. But because his power operates at a level which is by definition beyond human understanding there are many who reject this. They make themselves more blind than they begin. Let us be among those who accept the healing Jesus brings. He opens our eyes ultimately so that we can see him and to know who he is.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
He answered and said,
"Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"
Jesus said to him,
"You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he."
He said,
"I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him.
Once our eyes are opened by the anointing of Jesus we must live as children of the light. The light in us produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. We become able to know what is pleasing to the Lord and how to avoid the fruitless works of darkness.
If the Pharisees continue to pursue us and to give us a hard time about this change of life, this different way in which we now live, about our testimony to Jesus, we have the light that they cannot take from us. The Holy Spirit, in fact, continues to rush upon us just as it does on David, keeping our eyes open, helping us to see. We are able to see not as man sees, not as the Pharisees see, but as God sees. He opens the eyes of our hearts.
He guides me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
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