(un)Blinded by the light
4th Sunday of Lent (A – Scrutinies)
You may have noticed that we read the Year A selections the past two weeks. We will do so again next week. Bishop Coerver asked that all of the churches in the diocese join together to use these readings for the middle three Sundays of Lent. These three Sundays, we celebrate the Scrutinies.
During the Scrutinies, the Elect preparing for Baptism, are encouraged to examine their lives in order to uncover and heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect, and to strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. The elect are encouraged to receive the spirit of Christ who is the living water (that’s last week’s gospel), the light of the world (that’s today’s gospel), and the life (we will hear about the resurrection of Lazarus next week). Through prayer and exorcism, the elect are freed from the effects of sin and the influence of the evil one so they are free to open their hearts to receive the gifts of our Savior.
Even where we do not have the elect in our parishes it is good for us to be united as one local church in our diocese, and to pray together for the elect everywhere. It is good, too, to scrutinize our own lives. Where are we weak and tempted? Where do we sin seriously? Where do we need to be freed, healed, or strengthened?
Today the Gospel encourages us to confront our blindness. There is blindness which is neutral and without fault, like that of the man in the gospel who was born blind. There is also blindness which is the result of our choice, and that which is a consequence of our environment.
The prophet Samuel was blinded by the physical appearance of Jesse’s older sons. He had a preconceived idea of how a king should look, and these young men looked “kingly.”
Jesse and his sons were blind to David’s calling as King. They didn’t even think about having David come to attend Samuel’s sacrifice and feast. David looked entirely different from his brothers. Some Jewish scholars suggest David did not share both a mother and a father with his brothers. In any case, his family did not consider him worthy or important.
The church at Ephesus was blinded by ignorance and the darkness around them. They lived in darkness, and had to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
The disciples of Jesus were blinded by their preconceived ideas. They assumed the blind man or his parents sinned.
The man blind from birth was blind through no fault, but by his circumstances.
The blind man’s parents were blinded to the truth by fear of being rejected.
How is our vision impaired?
Do we see things and people the way God sees them, or the way the world sees them? Do we fail to see clearly because of what we think we know already? Do we fail to see clearly because of the darkness around us? Is our vision obscured by fear?
We are invited to consider our blindness, but it is not our blindness that is most important – it is how we see.
Christ is the light of the world. In him, we see light, and begin to understand the difference between light and darkness in the world, and in ourselves. From him, we receive the gift of sight. Through him, we see all things in a new light.
Jesus says “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”
When we are in the light, we will see that we have been blind, we have been wrong, and we are imperfect. Are we willing for this?
Everyone saw the miracle, but the Pharisees would not accept the significance of the event even after questioning the man and his parents. Saint Josemaria Escriva tells us “the sin of the Pharisees did not consist in not seeing God in Christ, but in voluntarily shutting themselves up within themselves, in not letting Jesus, who is the light, open their eyes” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 71).
Will we accept the light?
If we accept the light, will we also shed light upon the world around us? How will we interact with those still in darkness?
There is blindness which is neutral and without fault, like that of the man in the gospel. There is also the blindness of true ignorance. When we see what others do not see or understand, do we assign blame, or do we consider that perhaps their lack of vision is not their fault. Do we judge and condemn, or do we bring light and healing?
We live in a dark and confused world. The Second Vatican Council exports all Christians, especially lay people: “At a time when new questions are being put and when grave errors aiming at undermining religion, the moral order and human society itself are rampant, the Council earnestly exhorts the laity to take a more active part, each according to his or her talents and knowledge and in fidelity to the mind of the Church, in the explanation and defense of Christian principles and in the correct application of them to the problems of our times” (”Apostolicam Actuositatem”, 6).
Are we willing to speak up, in order to shed the light of Christ in a confused world?
If we do, we will be rejected. We, like our lord, will be condemned. We will suffer. The left will call us intolerant. The right will call us weak.
Will we be fearful, like the parents of the man born blind?
Or will we be like the man born blind, who Saint Chrysostom. (Hom. lvii. s. 2.) tells us “was not ashamed of his former blindness, nor afraid of the fury of the people, nor averse to shew himself, and proclaim his benefactor.”
Lord Jesus Christ, we ask you to heal us of our blindness, to shine your light on us and in us, and through us. Help us turn our eyes on you, who are light, and purify us of everything that hinders our witness to your love. Teach us what is pleasing to you who are light with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever.
