2023년 3월 19일 사순 제4주일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
사무엘기 상. 16,1ㄱㄹㅁㅂ.6-7.10-13ㄴ
그 무렵 1 주님께서 사무엘에게 말씀하셨다.
“기름을 뿔에 채워 가지고 떠나라.
내가 너를 베들레헴 사람 이사이에게 보낸다.
내가 친히 그의 아들 가운데에서 임금이 될 사람을 하나 보아 두었다.”
이사이와 그의 아들들이 6 왔을 때 사무엘은 엘리압을 보고,
‘주님의 기름부음받은이가 바로 주님 앞에 서 있구나.’ 하고 생각하였다.
7 그러나 주님께서는 사무엘에게 말씀하셨다.
“겉모습이나 키 큰 것만 보아서는 안 된다.
나는 이미 그를 배척하였다. 나는 사람들처럼 보지 않는다.
사람들은 눈에 들어오는 대로 보지만 주님은 마음을 본다.”
10 이사이가 아들 일곱을 사무엘 앞으로 지나가게 하였으나,
사무엘은 이사이에게
“이들 가운데에는 주님께서 뽑으신 이가 없소.” 하였다.
11 사무엘이 이사이에게 “아들들이 다 모인 겁니까?” 하고 묻자,
이사이는 “막내가 아직 남아 있지만,
지금 양을 치고 있습니다.” 하고 대답하였다.
사무엘이 이사이에게 말하였다. “사람을 보내 데려오시오.
그가 여기 올 때까지 우리는 식탁에 앉을 수가 없소.”
12 그래서 이사이는 사람을 보내어 그를 데려왔다.
그는 볼이 불그레하고 눈매가 아름다운 잘생긴 아이였다.
주님께서 “바로 이 아이다.
일어나 이 아이에게 기름을 부어라.” 하고 말씀하셨다.
13 사무엘은 기름이 담긴 뿔을 들고 형들 한가운데에서 그에게 기름을 부었다.
그러자 주님의 영이 다윗에게 들이닥쳐 그날부터 줄곧 그에게 머물렀다.
제2독서
에페소서. 5,8-14
형제 여러분, 8 여러분은 한때 어둠이었지만
지금은 주님 안에 있는 빛입니다. 빛의 자녀답게 살아가십시오.
9 빛의 열매는 모든 선과 의로움과 진실입니다.
10 무엇이 주님 마음에 드는 것인지 가려내십시오.
11 열매를 맺지 못하는 어둠의 일에 가담하지 말고
오히려 그것을 밖으로 드러내십시오.
12 사실 그들이 은밀히 저지르는 일들은 말하기조차 부끄러운 것입니다.
13 밖으로 드러나는 것은 모두 빛으로 밝혀집니다.
14 밝혀진 것은 모두 빛입니다. 그래서 이런 말씀이 있습니다.
“잠자는 사람아, 깨어나라. 죽은 이들 가운데에서 일어나라.
그리스도께서 너를 비추어 주시리라.”
복음
요한 9,1-41<또는 9,1.6-9.13-17.34-38>.
그때에 1 예수님께서 길을 가시다가 태어나면서부터 눈먼 사람을 보셨다.
2 제자들이 예수님께 물었다.
“스승님, 누가 죄를 지었기에 저이가 눈먼 사람으로 태어났습니까?
저 사람입니까, 그의 부모입니까?”
3 예수님께서 대답하셨다.
“저 사람이 죄를 지은 것도 아니고 그 부모가 죄를 지은 것도 아니다.
하느님의 일이 저 사람에게서 드러나려고 그리된 것이다.
4 나를 보내신 분의 일을 우리는 낮 동안에 해야 한다.
이제 밤이 올 터인데 그때에는 아무도 일하지 못한다.
5 내가 이 세상에 있는 동안 나는 세상의 빛이다.”
6 예수님께서는 이렇게 말씀하시고 나서,
땅에 침을 뱉고 그것으로 진흙을 개어 그 사람의 눈에 바르신 다음,
7 “실로암 못으로 가서 씻어라.” 하고 그에게 이르셨다.
‘실로암’은 ‘파견된 이’라고 번역되는 말이다.
그가 가서 씻고 앞을 보게 되어 돌아왔다.
8 이웃 사람들이, 그리고 그가 전에 거지였던 것을 보아 온 이들이 말하였다.
“저 사람은 앉아서 구걸하던 이가 아닌가?”
9 어떤 이들은 “그 사람이오.” 하고,
또 어떤 이들은 “아니오. 그와 닮은 사람이오.” 하였다.
그 사람은 “내가 바로 그 사람입니다.” 하고 말하였다.
10 그들이 “그러면 어떻게 눈을 뜨게 되었소?” 하고 묻자,
11 그 사람이 대답하였다. “예수님이라는 분이 진흙을 개어 내 눈에 바르신 다음,
‘실로암 못으로 가서 씻어라.’ 하고 나에게 이르셨습니다.
그래서 내가 가서 씻었더니 보게 되었습니다.”
12 그들이 “그 사람이 어디 있소?” 하고 물으니,
그가 “모르겠습니다.” 하고 대답하였다.
13 그들은 전에 눈이 멀었던 그 사람을 바리사이들에게 데리고 갔다.
14 그런데 예수님께서 진흙을 개어
그 사람의 눈을 뜨게 해 주신 날은 안식일이었다.
15 그래서 바리사이들도 그에게 어떻게 보게 되었는지 다시 물었다.
그는 “그분이 제 눈에 진흙을 붙여 주신 다음,
제가 씻었더니 보게 되었습니다.” 하고 대답하였다.
16 바리사이들 가운데에서 몇몇은
“그는 안식일을 지키지 않으므로 하느님에게서 온 사람이 아니오.” 하고,
어떤 이들은 “죄인이 어떻게 그런 표징을 일으킬 수 있겠소?” 하여,
그들 사이에 논란이 일어났다.
17 그리하여 그들이 눈이 멀었던 이에게 다시 물었다.
“그가 당신 눈을 뜨게 해 주었는데, 당신은 그를 어떻게 생각하오?”
그러자 그가 대답하였다. “그분은 예언자이십니다.”
18 유다인들은 그가 눈이 멀었었는데
이제는 보게 되었다는 사실을 믿으려고 하지 않았다.
그리하여 앞을 볼 수 있게 된 그 사람의 부모를 불러, 19 그들에게 물었다.
“이 사람이 태어날 때부터 눈이 멀었다는 당신네 아들이오?
그런데 지금은 어떻게 보게 되었소?”
20 그의 부모가 대답하였다. “이 아이가 우리 아들이라는 것과
태어날 때부터 눈이 멀었다는 것은 우리가 압니다.
21 그러나 지금 어떻게 해서 보게 되었는지는 모릅니다.
누가 그의 눈을 뜨게 해 주었는지도 우리는 모릅니다.
그에게 물어보십시오. 나이를 먹었으니 제 일은 스스로 이야기할 것입니다.”
22 그의 부모는 유다인들이 두려워 이렇게 말하였다.
누구든지 예수님을 메시아라고 고백하면
회당에서 내쫓기로 유다인들이 이미 합의하였기 때문이다.
23 그래서 그의 부모가 “나이를 먹었으니 그에게 물어보십시오.” 하고 말한 것이다.
24 그리하여 바리사이들은 눈이 멀었던 그 사람을 다시 불러,
“하느님께 영광을 드리시오.
우리는 그자가 죄인임을 알고 있소.” 하고 말하였다.
25 그 사람이 대답하였다. “그분이 죄인인지 아닌지 저는 모릅니다.
그러나 이 한 가지, 제가 눈이 멀었는데 이제는 보게 되었다는 것은 압니다.”
26 “그가 당신에게 무엇을 하였소?
그가 어떻게 해서 당신의 눈을 뜨게 하였소?” 하고 그들이 물으니,
27 그가 대답하였다. “제가 이미 여러분에게 말씀드렸는데
여러분은 들으려고 하지 않으셨습니다. 어째서 다시 들으려고 하십니까?
여러분도 그분의 제자가 되고 싶다는 말씀입니까?”
28 그러자 그들은 그에게 욕설을 퍼부으며 말하였다.
“당신은 그자의 제자지만 우리는 모세의 제자요.
29 우리는 하느님께서 모세에게 말씀하셨다는 것을 아오.
그러나 그자가 어디에서 왔는지는 우리가 알지 못하오.”
30 그 사람이 그들에게 대답하였다. “그분이 제 눈을 뜨게 해 주셨는데
여러분은 그분이 어디에서 오셨는지 모르신다니, 그것 정말 놀라운 일입니다.
31 하느님께서는 죄인들의 말을 들어 주지 않으신다는 것을 우리는 압니다.
그러나 누가 하느님을 경외하고 그분의 뜻을 실천하면,
그 사람의 말은 들어 주십니다.
32 태어날 때부터 눈이 먼 사람의 눈을 누가 뜨게 해 주었다는 말을
일찍이 들어 본 적이 없습니다.
33 그분이 하느님에게서 오지 않으셨으면 아무것도 하실 수 없었을 것입니다.”
34 그러자 그들은 “당신은 완전히 죄 중에 태어났으면서
우리를 가르치려고 드는 것이오?” 하며, 그를 밖으로 내쫓아 버렸다.
35 그가 밖으로 내쫓겼다는 말을 들으신 예수님께서는 그를 만나시자,
“너는 사람의 아들을 믿느냐?” 하고 물으셨다.
36 그 사람이 “선생님, 그분이 누구이십니까?
제가 그분을 믿을 수 있도록 말씀해 주십시오.” 하고 대답하자,
37 예수님께서 그에게 이르셨다.
“너는 이미 그를 보았다. 너와 말하는 사람이 바로 그다.”
38 그는 “주님, 저는 믿습니다.” 하며 예수님께 경배하였다.
39 그때에 예수님께서 이르셨다. “나는 이 세상을 심판하러 왔다.
보지 못하는 이들은 보고, 보는 이들은 눈먼 자가 되게 하려는 것이다.”
40 예수님과 함께 있던 몇몇 바리사이가 이 말씀을 듣고 예수님께,
“우리도 눈먼 자라는 말은 아니겠지요?” 하고 말하였다.
41 예수님께서 그들에게 이르셨다.
“너희가 눈먼 사람이었으면 오히려 죄가 없었을 것이다.
그러나 지금 너희가 ‘우리는 잘 본다.’ 하고 있으니,
너희 죄는 그대로 남아 있다.”
March 19, 2023
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
: https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyTVMass
Bible : http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Reading 1
The LORD said to Samuel:
“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”
As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Gospel
Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He replied,
“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
And they said to him, “Where is he?”
He said, “I don’t know.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?”
His parents answered and said,
“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
“He is of age; question him.”
So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, “Give God the praise!
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.”
So they said to him,
“What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
They ridiculed him and said,
“You are that man’s disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from.”
The man answered and said to them,
“This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.
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.
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.”
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
As we enter this Fourth Sunday of Lent, we remind ourselves of Jesus’ use of the Holy Word as He was being tempted by the devil throughout those 40 long days in the desert. It doesn’t matter what form of sin or down right evil we may be facing, as Jesus so clearly demonstrated, the answer for our response and our protection can always be found in the Bible.
Today’s readings provide us with incredible insight into the results we can expect when we simply trust in the power of God’s Word, as Jesus did in the desert. We begin with Samuel. In this part of Samuel’s story, God once again spoke directly to him and directed him to go to Jesse to anoint a new king. This task was certainly not a pleasant assignment for Samuel. Not only was he sad to see Saul removed from the throne, but he even feared for his life should King Saul find out what he was doing. To make matters worse, when Samuel arrived at Jesse’ home, the son he expected to anoint was definitely not the youngest son - David. Surely the last one he would have chosen. Isn’t that really how life sometimes unfolds for us. We hear God’s calling and we are filled with trepidation. At times, it just doesn’t seem to make any sense. It may even require us to work with people we may not trust, or even like. We often forget that we are not alone, that God provides us with everything we might need to accomplish the task He has for us. He looks at the heart – especially our heart. We simply need to trust. Trust the almighty God of the universe. Whether he wanted to or not, Samuel followed God’s directive and King David proved God’s wisdom and sovereignty.
In the midst of our doubting God’s directives for our lives, we can find hope in today’s responsorial Psalm 23. We are reminded that with God, there is nothing more we could ever want. He provides us with the rest and comfort we need to refresh our soul. He guides us along the path He has laid out for us from the beginning of time. We have nothing to fear as He provides all the courage we could ever need. His goodness and kindness have always seen us through our most difficult challenges, and we can trust securely in our Lord as we look forward to dwelling with Him throughout all of eternity.
So what does this trusting look like as we push through our daily challenges? How do we deal with difficult people? Our second reading in Ephesians provides the simple, yet profound answer. “Live as children of light, for light produces goodness and righteousness and truth.” We learn what is pleasing to the Lord through meditating on His Holy Word and then following that path. Christ Himself will give us His light. That is simply what He does – He “is the light of the world” and following Him is the way to have & exude “the light of life”, as we find in the verse before today’s Gospel reading.
The concept of God as the center of light and truth is powerfully brought home in today’s Gospel story about Jesus healing the blind man. Jesus’ disciples were trying to understand why the man was born blind in the first place. Kinda sounds like us, doesn’t it. Why do people suffer and why do bad things happen? Jesus reminded them, and us, that He is “the light of the world”. He demonstrated that He did in fact have the power to heal. So where does that leave us? Perhaps the blind man’s simple response is the key – “One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” Perhaps that statement is far more spiritual than physical. The Pharisees certainly did not understand what had just happened. They could not see the light. Yet truth and light were right there in front of them. Jesus freely gives to those that will receive His truth. That same truth and light that is available to each of us, we simply must seek Him and His Holy Word.
Dear Heavenly Father, open our eyes this day to see the world as You see it. Help us to respond as You would respond to those You have placed in our lives. Allow your Holy, Unquenchable Light to flow through each of us every moment, especially when life doesn’t seem fair or right. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen
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BLIND SIDE
“As He walked along, He saw a man who had been blind from birth.” —John 9:1
The world is divided into two groups: those who know they’re spiritually blind and ask for and receive sight from Jesus, and others who refuse to admit they’re blind and are even blind to being blind (Is 29:9). Jesus said: “I came into this world to divide it, to make the sightless see and the seeing blind” (Jn 9:39). Many take offense at being called blind. “Some of the Pharisees around Him picked this up, saying, ‘You are not calling us blind, are You?’ To which Jesus replied: ‘If you were blind there would be no sin in that. “But we see,” you say, and your sin remains’ ” (Jn 9:40-41).
We were born spiritually blind. We inherited this from our first parents Adam and Eve. Our sight was restored when we were reborn in the waters of Baptism. Nevertheless, we continue to have eye problems because of our sins, which originally caused our spiritual blindness (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 588, 1791). We keep bumping into things, crashing into brick walls, and having terrible accidents. What does it take to wake us up to reality?
We must confess our sins, and Jesus will again restore our spiritual vision. “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Eph 5:14). “So the man went off and washed, and came back able to see” (Jn 9:7).
Prayer: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures He gives me repose; beside restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul” (Ps 23:1-3).
Promise: “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.” —1 Sm 16:7
Praise: “Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and grants life, so the Son grants life to those to whom He wishes” (Jn 5:21). Praise Jesus, crucified and risen!
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Do you recognize the light of God's truth and power in your life? God wants to remove every obstacle that might hinder us from recognizing the light of his truth and wisdom for our lives. Saul, the first king of Israel, failed to recognize God's light and power to save him from his enemies. God replaced Saul with David, the youngest of Jesse's eight sons (1 Samuel 16). God saw something in David which Jesse and his other sons did not recognize - a man after God's own heart who delighted in doing what was pleasing to the Lord (1 Samuel 13:14). David was a man of courage and vision who defeated his enemies and united his people. His strength and success came not from himself but from God who anointed him with the power and wisdom of his own Spirit.
What can keep us from the light of God's truth, wisdom, and strength for our lives? Sin blinds us and causes us to stumble and fall - unable to rise on our own or to walk in the freedom of God's love and truth. Sin clouds the mind in moral confusion, and it grows in darkness and resists the light of God's truth. Only God's light can uncover the darkness of sin and free us to walk in the path of holiness and peace with God.
The light of the world
When the disciples saw a man who had been blind from birth, they asked Jesus what kind of sin had caused this blindness. The Jews had understood that many infirmities were the result of human folly and sin. While sin can lead to physical, mental, and spiritual infirmities, not all sickness is the direct result of sin. Sickness can befall us for a variety of reasons. Jesus answered that God had allowed this infirmity for a greater purpose which God wanted to demonstrate as a sign of his presence and power. Jesus then made a claim which only God could rightfully make. Jesus stated unequivocally, I am the light of the world (John 9:5). In so many words Jesus was saying that he is the one true source of power and light which sustains life and overcomes the darkness of sin, confusion, and spiritual blindness. Jesus' mighty works - his miraculous signs - confirmed the truth of his message and claim to divine authority and equality with his Father in heaven. One of his greatest signs was the healing of a man who had been blind from birth.
Healing of man born blind
When Jesus approached the blind man he first awakened hope in him - the hope which God offers those who seek his help. Jesus then did something quite remarkable for the blind man, both to identify with this man's misery and to draw expectant faith in him as well. Jesus touched the man's eyes with his own spittle mixed with dirt and bid him to wash in the Pool of Siloam which was close to the Temple. This pool of fresh flowing water was one of the landmarks of the city of Jerusalem. It's source came from the Gihon spring located in the valley outside the walls of Jerusalem. This pool was likely used as a ceremonial bath of purification for people who were going up to the Temple to worship. On the yearly feast of Tabernacles, one of the priests brought a golden pitcher of water from this pool and poured it out over the altar in the temple while reciting from the verse, "You will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). What is the significance of the healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam? It is certainly more than just a miraculous event. It is a "sign" that points to the source of the miraculous life-giving water which Jesus offers through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38). Do you want the Holy Spirit to pour out on you his renewing power of faith, vision, and healing love?
The Pharisees were upset with Jesus' miracle on two counts. First, he healed the blind man on the Sabbath, which they considered a serious violation of the command to rest on the Sabbath. Second, how could a "sinner" and a "sabbath-breaker" do such a marvelous work of God! The man who claimed to have been healed by Jesus must not have really been blind to begin with! Contrary to this false charge, the fact of this man's blindness was well known to many people, including the parents who testified under oath that he had indeed been blind since birth. The prejudice of the religious leaders made them blind to God's intention for the Sabbath (to do good rather than evil) and to Jesus' claim to be the One sent from the Father in heaven to bring freedom and light to his people. The Jewish leaders tried to intimidate both this cured man and his parents by threatening to exclude them from membership in the synagogue - the local congregation of the worshiping community of Jews. This man was shunned by the religious authorities because he believed that Jesus healed him and was the Messiah.
Freedom from spiritual blindness
John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, remarked: "The Jews (the Pharisees) cast him out of the Temple; the Lord of the Temple found him." If our witness of Jesus and his redeeming work in our lives causes friends or foes to reject us, it nonetheless draws us nearer to the Lord Jesus himself. Paul the Apostles warns us to avoid the darkness of sin that we might walk more clearly in the light of Christ (Ephesians 5:8-12). Do you allow any blind-spots to blur your vision of what God is offering you and asking of you?
The Lord Jesus is ever ready to heal us and to free us from the darkness of sin and deception. There is no sickness, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual that the Lord Jesus does not identify with. Isaiah prophesied that the "Suffering Servant" would be bruised for our iniquities and by his stripes we would be healed (Isaiah 53:5). The Lord offers us freedom from spiritual blindness due to sin and he restores us to wholeness of body, mind, soul, and heart. Augustine of Hippo, in his commentary on this Gospel passage, remarks: "If we reflect on the meaning of this miracle, we will see that the blind man is the human race ...You already know, of course, who the "One Sent" is. Unless he had been sent, none of us would have been freed from sin."
Jesus, in your name the blind see, the lame walk, and the dead are raised to life. Come into our lives and heal the wounds of our broken hearts. Give us eyes of faith to see your glory and hearts of courage to bring you glory in all we say and do.
Psalm 23:1-6
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The unchangeable Light, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"I entered into my inmost self with You, Lord, as my guide - And this I was able to do because You were my helper. I entered in and saw with the eye of my soul, the unchangeable Light, very different from earthly lights. It was above my mind but not the way oil is above water or heaven above the earth. It was superior because it made me, and I inferior because I was made by it. Those who know the truth know this light, and those who know it know eternity - It is charity that knows it." (excerpt from Confessions 7,10)
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