Sunday of the Blind man
Celebrates 35 days after Holy Easter.
The Gospel of Blind Sunday is an irrefutable proof that Christ was not only a perfect man but also a perfect God.
As we read in the Gospel of John (ch. 9, 1-38), Christ, passing through Jerusalem, meets a man born blind. The Lord made a gate, after spitting on the ground, anointed his eyes and sent him to the pool of Siloam. This way of healing reminds us of the way God created man, by molding him. God in the Old Testament, fashions man from dust, now Christ, fashions the eyes of the blind from birth again from dust. God himself! He tests the blind man’s faith and sends him to the pool of Siloam. He respects man’s freedom, and asks for his own voluntary and free participation in the miracle. But the blind man with faith, obeys God’s command, goes and washes and returns seeing.
However, the life of the cured blind man did not become easier. He becomes the target of the malice and hatred of the Pharisees, those people who zealously believed in God and in keeping His Law. They interrogate the blind man and instead of believing, seeing the miracle alive before them, they close the eyes of their souls. Their religious fanaticism not only closes the eyes of their souls and removes discrimination from their souls, but ultimately distances them from God.
The parents of the blind man are afraid to confess the miracle that happened to their child who was born blind, lest they become dissidents. Such was their faith and their joy that they concealed by masterfully avoiding confessing a true fact. “Is he old enough to ask”! Perhaps Christ spoiled their plans, since their son, blind from birth, was begging. Perhaps it disturbed their peace since they had to report to the synagogue and be interrogated at the risk of being expelled from the synagogue. And we Christians who benefit daily from God, are ashamed or afraid to confess to God because of our lack of faith. We put our interests above God, believing inwardly that He will understand us! He will understand us but he will also see our faith and the priorities we have placed in our lives.
The blind man finally healed not only the eyes of his body but also of his soul. He recognizes and worships the divinity of Jesus and does not hesitate to confess it to the religious leaders with a courage that many of us would envy. Faith alone is not enough, confession of faith is also needed to become genuine children of Jesus. When we confess Christ before people, He will also confess us before His Father, the Lord has promised us.