A Sign that Reveals: A Miracle Is Not Enough, Light Is Essential
We encounter the narrative of one of the seven signs in the Gospel of Saint John, the healing of a man born blind; and while we could call it a āmiracle,ā like so many other accounts of blind people being healed in the other Gospels, its particularity invites us to delve into it as a sign. This is because we discover a greater meaning in this action, and because this event seems to hold a message relevant to our lives. Let us attend to this event narrated in the Gospel of Saint John and allow the light of Jesus offered within it to heal our blindness. For we must know that even as eyewitnesses to a sign, without the light of Jesus, it is difficult for us to see its most genuine reality. Our vision, even if our eyes have been open since birth, fails to see the depths of some realities unless we enter into the dynamism of the manifestation of God’s work. May we learn to understand that God can manifest Himself to us through signs, but we must have His light to see them! May this episode from the Gospel allow us to know more about Jesus, the light of the world, who has come to give sight to those who cannot see.
From āSpeaking of Sinā to Recognizing the Work of God
At the beginning of this episode, Jesus passes by and, in His journey, sees a man born blind. He is not the only one who sees the blind man; the disciples see him too. But where they see an opportunity to speak of sin, Jesus sees an opportunity to speak of the manifestation of God’s work. What a difference in focus on the same reality! Following this, Jesus makes mud with saliva, smears it on the blind man’s eyes, and tells him to wash. The man born blind does exactly as Jesus tells him, and upon returning, although he returns with sight, he does not see Jesus anywhere; he does not encounter Him. And here begins a series of appearances for the man who has just gained his sight. The man’s knowledge is tested; they ask him: who he is, what happened to him, who the one who opened his eyes is and where he is, and the man responds partially. However, as the process unfolds, the man gradually recognizes the manifestation of God’s work in him. Moreover, this man, who had mud put on him, washes and now sees; he stops mentioning to his interrogators the facts exactly as they happenedāfacts that can be seen but lack meaning for them! This man, who had been categorized by sin since birth, now confronts those who demand explanations and is capable of teaching them lessons about the power of God. This man is, practically, a new man, but the Pharisees and Jews present do not see him this way, and so they expel and reject him. They do not see beyond what their vision has always presented to them!
Parents with Fear, Son with Courage: The Faith that Learns to See
In this section of the Gospel, the attitude taken by the parents of the formerly blind man also stands out, in contrast to the attitude taken by their own son when questioned by the Jews. Even then, as now, being in relation with Jesus can mean swimming against the current, but it is there that we must let the light of Jesus give us vision and confront any darkness. Only then do we manage to take the step and truly see Jesus, as occurs later in the episode; for Jesus meets this man again and this time engages in a dialogue with him. And while at first, Jesus contacted him mainly through a series of gestures, here He does so more directly; at this point, both see each other, and the relationship between this man and Jesus is transformed. Now this is a relationship of trust and mutual reception; from now on, this man, formerly blind from birth, will not only be able to see Jesus but also, through this vision, believes in Him. Now, beyond having his eyes open, it is faith that allows this man to see a new light that has transformed his entire worldāa renewing light, a light that triumphs over clarifications.
