The Man Born Blind

In the Gospel of John there are seven miracles (called “signs” / semeia). They always point beyond themselves to the divine – not just the divine as a vague power, but to a person. They identify Jesus as the light and life of the world, the bread of life from heaven, and the Logos who, through the semeia/signs, reveals his own glory, which is also the glory of God his Father, since he and the Father are one and since he does the Father’s will and works.  These signs are given that we might believe (Jn 20:26).  For John, sin is the failure to believe and accept the consequential changes in one’s life.  All the characters of John 9 (on-lookers, neighbors, parents, the Pharisees and other religious leaders) are judged in their failure to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior and to subsequently become witnesses to Jesus as the glory of God.

For all the people in the gospel story, the day started out as ordinary, just a regular day. The man born blind takes his usual place for begging. His parents go about their day. Even the Pharisees are about their routine. And in a moment ordinary is torn asunder all because of an encounter with Jesus. Everyone in the account has been given the conditions for the possibility of enhanced sight. Physical sight for the man born blind, but spiritual sight for all the people.

After all the events of that day, the man born blind entered a world he once could only engage by touch and sound. Now he could see and was forced to find a new rhythm and “ordinary” in this new world – all because of a personal encounter with Jesus.

You can find the full text of the Sunday gospel here. And if you are interested in a detailed commentary, one is available here.