Readings – http://www.usccb.org/nab/040311.shtml
During these Sundays between the 2nd Sunday of Lent and Palm Sunday, the Gospel Readings differ each year. This year, the Gospel Reading in each of these three Sundays reveals something of Jesus’ mission: Last Sunday, Jesus reconciled a Samaritan woman to both to God and her community. This Sunday, Jesus enlightens, gives sight, to a man born blind. Finally, next Sunday, Jesus gives new life to Lazarus, raising him from the dead.
Thus Jesus’ mission is one of reconciliation, reconciling us to God and to each other; one of healing and enlightenment; and one which offers us new life.
Today, we focus on Jesus’ mission of healing and enlightenment.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is presented by his disciples "a man born blind." But they present him to Jesus more as an object for a parlor game than a matter of concern. They ask him: "Who sinned? Whose fault is it, his or of his parents?"
Lest we judge the disciples too harshly, let’s remember that often enough we do the same. Often we get involved in ways that are more "gossipy" than helpful. We see a kid getting into trouble and we ask, is it him or is it his family? We see the victim of an accident and we "Ahh, if he didn’t drive so fast." We see people having trouble in marriages, or even having children with birth defects and we play the game "who’s fault is it?" It should be obvious that none of is particularly helpful but we do it anyway. And perhaps it would be useful ask why?
My sense is that it’s the result of believing that there are "good families" and "bad ones." Now one thing that I’ve certainly learned in my 12 years of being a priest is that there isn’t such a thing as a "good family" or a "bad" one. Almost every family has some redeeming values and almost every family has its problems. Often the difference between a "good family" and a "bad" one is the ability to hide problems. Plus even if one were blessed and of a "good family" what good is it, if the family doesn’t help others becoming an elitist island onto itself.
Jesus tells the disciples that this man was born blind not account of his or his family’s sins but rather "to manifest the glory of God." What a nice set of words and _absolutely true_. There is simply no situation, no accident, no tragedy which can not be redeemed. A tragedy gives us the opportunity to reorient our priorities. Someone in need offers us an opportunity help. Pope John Paul II famously wrote at one point that there will be no justice in our world until we come to see in the person in need an opportunity to respond with kindness. Jesus’ own death of course was redeemed by his resurrection... but we get ahead of ourselves.
Jesus heals the man born blind... and then again, a situation that is common to us. Sometimes we ourselves can feel that "no good deed goes unpunished." This poor man, born blind, is healed, and he pulled through the ringer. People start asking him "Hey, weren’t you the blind man who used to beg for money? (Were you ripping us off?)" He assures them that he was blind but was healed. Then the religious experts come in. "Hmmm. This guy healed you. It’s Saturday. It was against the law. You look like you could be 40 years old, but let’s talk to your parents..." So they humiliate him and talk to the parents. The parents don’t want to cause trouble and don’t want to embarrass him. So they send the Pharisees back to the son. They then declare him a sinner. Why? Because he didn’t fit their expectations and it began to really irritate them. And in the midst of all this, the formerly blind man begins to see better than those who could always see. Jesus doesn’t fit into the Pharisee’s religious scheme either. So they declare him a sinner as well rather than glorify God for healing the blind man.
The moral of the story becomes that Jesus can give sight to the blind and can give direction / illumination to all of us. But also then, if we reject God’s gifts and presence around us, that ourselves become blind, lose our way, lose our priorities.
I’ve said this many times at funerals. God is not going to care if we were famous or important or rich. What he is going to care about is that during our time here we learn to love one another, to forgive one another and ultimately put our faith in God.
Tragedies often help us to set our priorities straight. So rather than gossip around people who are lost, or have had a tragic past, let us really _see_ in them an opportunity to grow to come closer to God and come closer to what in fact God wants us to be.
We find ourselves in this time of Lent, and annual invitation to conversion. Let us use this time to see God’s presence around us and to change our hearts.
God bless you all.
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