The Blind Man

Today's Gospel focuses on the blind man. From the Jewish point of view, amalady such as this is a sign of sin. Hence, it was even believed that the blind man was blind from birth due to his parents' sins. This kind of thinking stems from their experience of God Who punishes those who sin, and as can be seen in the Jewish history, the punishments were evident through the signs, such as blindness or leprosy. One who has the sign of punishment logically is imputed as being the bearer of being a sinner, or has been so due to the sins of one's parents.

But for Jesus, the blind man's blindness is not due to his parents' sins, but that through his blindness, God can show His greatness. This is a totally new perspective and thus makes this Sunday really "Laetare" Sunday, a day of rejoicing because for God, sin no longer counts. His mercy counts. He wants to show us His mercy, His greatness He wants to show us if only we were such a blind man who has alllowed God to do things His way .

Focusing on the blind man, he hasn't seen anything since birth, hence, it may not be fair to say he is blind when he hasn't lost anything since he was born. I remember in 1995, when I was new in the Philippines having just come back from Taiwan, I attended lessons in sign language. Among the things we were told was to remember that the deaf are people some of whom may not have heard anything since they were born, hence they shouldn't be imputed something they have never lost - the sense of hearing. Those who've never heard shouldn't be called deaf, hence, since the blind man in the Gospel has never seen anything, then he can't be accounted for what he never had. This thought seems to have some divine quality which wants to work with what is there that is open and ready, if only to show His mercy and Love. This seems the reason for our Laetare today: God is in our midst if only we are ready, and He works for us so that we may believe.

I am right now immersed in darkness. It may have been due to my sins, but the thought that He wants to come into my life, into my darkness, to show me His mercy and goodness, His Love, makes me rejoice. I don't have to choose to stay in the darkness. In fact I am called to believe and live as light the way St. Paul says in the second reading.