Homily on the Sixth Sunday of Pascha: Sunday of the Blind Man John 9: 1-38.
In today’s Gospel, we have recounted for us the healing of the blind man. Whilst this healing most certainly happened it is clear that there is a deeper meaning that can be read into this healing. Firstly, Christ heals a blind man – a man whose eyes could not see nor detect the light. However, our Lord and Saviour in His infinite wisdom heals this poor man of his affliction. What is the deeper meaning that can be read into this healing? Well, one thing is for certain is that Christ is the light that came into the world. At the start of the account, the blind man could be seen to represent the reality of souls that have not come to recognise Christ. These souls are spiritually blind and unable to recognise the light that is Christ- even if they try. Why is this the case? Well until one accepts Christ with an open and humble heart, one is like the eyes of the blind man which were unable to sense the light that is Christ! Like the blind man souls that have, ‘put on Christ’ are then healed and given the grace to see and know that Christ is the Lord of all (Galatians 3:27).
Many people in our age are like the blind man before his healing – meaning that they are spiritually blind and in many cases, they follow leaders that are as equally blind as they are. Remember, Christ, talks about the blindness of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew chapter 23, and notes that whilst the scribes and Pharisees profess to be righteous it is their hypocrisy that they have their downfall. Many in this age profess to be right and on the right side of history – however, oftentimes these individuals have become like the scribes and Pharisees blinded by their arrogance. Indeed, many of these leaders in the world mistake absolute truth for falsehood and falsehood for absolute truth. This is to say these leaders have rebelled against Christ and His Gospel! They in their arrogance have hated that which is freely given and exchanged it for that which is bought at great cost from the world. Yet these things that they buy from the world cannot save nor give them life within them that cannot die. Many people, unfortunately, have mistaken the stagnant promises of the world for the water that can quench their spiritual thirst. Nonetheless, these poor souls are hedging their bets on the empty promises of the world- yet the promises of the world are as empty as a bar the night after a wedding party. This wedding party, whilst fun, can only give fleeting joy – the morning after the party the hangover sets in and one is brought back to reality. Yet these poor souls seem to have forgotten that they were invited to another wedding feast this one the Feast of all Feasts – the Feast of the Eucharist. In many ways, they will learn, as did Judas, that thirty pieces of silver might be attractive but in the end - was it worth losing their souls for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26: 14-16)?
Let us be comforted for it is clear that our Lord and Saviour came that all who desire to be saved may have the opportunity to be saved. Christ makes it evident that His mission is to offer all us unworthy broken individuals that healing that we so desire. Indeed, Christ offers this healing at no cost - all He desires is that we love the All-Holy Trinity and our neighbour as we love ourselves. All the same, it is essential that we Christ’s Body the Church, do not become like the scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel - for their main concern was not that the man had been healed miraculously; instead, their concern was that Christ had healed the man on the Sabbath! Now, this must surely show what happens when religious folks become so blinded by their own supposed reflected brilliance! Yet these folks do not realise that one can only be a light to the world once one has put on Christ (Galatians 3:27) through the Holy Mysteries of His Church! Did Christ come so that the scribes and Pharisees might be exalted? Certainly not! He makes it abundantly clear that those He comes to save are those that are oftentimes the little ones that society rejects! Our Lord and Saviour is clear that it is the little ones that He has come to save. Indeed, Christ says to His disciples, ‘let the Children come unto me’ (Matthew 19:14). This is His mission; this is His desire that all the little ones that need His grace may be saved.
Why is it in our Orthodox Tradition that we have so many saints that were ‘fools for Christ’? Well simply put, these men and women knew that to come to Christ, one must humble one’s self and become like a little Child and do that which seems foolish to the eyes of the world. Also, they were aware of the danger of the praises of men – this is the trap that the scribes and Pharisees fell into. This is why Christ points out in the parable of the publican and the Pharisee, that sincere prayer comes from a humble heart and not a desire to be seen as righteous so as to seek the approval of men. The approval of men is fleeting and as Psalm 89 points out through the metaphor of the grass of the field - that which is in the world will fade whilst God is Eternal (Psalm 89: 1-6). Let us not forget that in the future if we live a good and faithful life the joy of the Resurrection awaits us and we will enter a place where there is neither sighing or want this is where we will be given our place at the Divine Wedding Feast of the Lamb! All of this depends on our response to the All-Holy Trinity if we mean yes to this great promise let our yes be a yes (Matthew 5:37) then through faith and deed this is where we will come to pass. Therefore, let us rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4), and know that He loves us and wills the best for us - for He is a God who loves mankind!
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