Today’s readings capture a theme which we see repeatedly throughout scripture beginning first with the prophets and then making its way into the New Testament. It is the concept of “eyes that do not see.” (Isa. 6:10; Jer. 5:21; Ezek. 12:2; Mt. 13:5; Acts 28:27; Rom. 11:8).
The eyes in this metaphor are not meant to indicate the sensory organs which we use to visualize and perceive what is present and happening around us in our daily reality. Rather these eyes are the senses of the soul striving to be in tune to all things spiritual and the workings of God in our midst.
In the First Reading from today (1Samuel 16:1b.6-7,10-13a) we hear how God instructs Samuel on this type of seeing, telling him not to judge based on mere appearances. Having been disappointed by the failures of King Saul, God tells Samuel to travel to Bethlehem to find the new king from among the sons of Jesse. As the sons file in for purification and sacrifice, Samuel’s eyes happen on the one named Eliab. At first, we are given no description of Eliab and only read that Samuel has determined, “Surely the anointed is here before the LORD.” (1Sam. 16:6).
But God intervenes telling Samuel, “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. God does not see as a mortal, who sees the appearance. The LORD looks into the heart.” (1Sam. 16:7).
Knowing the heart of these men, God does not judge any of them worthy to be the next anointed king. So, Samuel asks Jesse if he has any more sons and Jesse replies, “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.” (1Sam. 16:11).
This son is described as ruddy and handsome with beautiful eyes (1Sam. 16:12), but he is young and, at this point, only qualified to tend sheep. It seems unlikely that his appearance would qualify him to be the next one to lead the nation.
But God chooses this son above all the others, not according to human standards, rather based on divine judgment knowing that this young man will later become the greatest, most faithful king and the basis for judging all others – King David.
Based on this theme of seeing and judging it’s no coincidence that the reading from today’s Gospel would be titled “The Man Born Blind.” (John 9:1-41). There’s a lot of seeing and not seeing that happens with the characters in this story.
The first and most obvious example is the man described as being “blind from birth.” (Jn. 9:1). Jesus takes pity on the man as he passes by him and cures him of his congenital defect by rubbing his eyes with clay made of his saliva and dirt. Jesus instructs the man, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” and after this we are told that the man has been given his eyesight. (Jn. 9:7).
The disciples who witness this event see but do not understand the reason for its occurrence. Following the tradition of their faith they believe that the man was born blind as a result of punishment for sin. They inquire of Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (Jn. 9:2).
Jesus then explains to them, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” (Jn. 9:3). The disciples are drawing conclusions about this miracle based on human standards, but Jesus tells them that their judgment should be based on God’s will and reasoning.
The neighbors of the blind man also misjudge the situation. Those who had known him only as a beggar have the following discussion: “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” (Jn. 9:8-9).
These people can no longer recognize the man they once knew to be blind because they are trying to identify him based on his outward appearance. With eyes that do not see they cannot perceive the reality of God working through Jesus now that the man has been cured.
Finally, the man is brought to the Pharisees who are investigating what has been reported to them by some of the bystanders. We are informed at this point that this miracle was performed by Jesus on the day of the Sabbath, a day which is restricted from any work according to the laws of the Torah.
When the man describes to the Pharisees the way in which Jesus had worked the miracle to cure him, mixing clay from the dirt, they label Jesus as a sinful man who does not keep the Sabbath. One such as this should not be able to perform such signs and they fail to believe the man’s story. They even summon his parents to confirm what he has told them, and when this does not satisfy them, they continue to badger the blind man for an explanation.
The blind man finally becomes very blunt with the Pharisees saying, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” (9:31,33). This man has not only gained the use of his eyes he has also been given the gift of seeing the reality of Jesus as God’s representative.
With stubbornness those who are supposed to be the religious experts continue to insist, “We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from (Jn. 9:29). With metaphorical irony they pose this question, “Surely, we are not also blind, are we?” (Jn. 9:40).
Even the most faithful among us are sometimes like the Pharisees. Our lives are messy and hectic. At times they are even disappointing and disparaging so that our human eyes find it difficult to see God’s presence. Yet we have the comfort of knowing that Jesus has brought the light of his Spirit into our world, which we receive through the living water of Baptism like the man at the Pool of Siloam. With the vision of faith, we need not live in blind darkness ever again.
