Blindness

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Blindness

Spiritual   Rejection

Wash Away the Clay

You Will See Him

I Am He

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 9:36

Jesus healed a man who was born blind on the sabbath and some of the religious authorities were concerned about it and questioned both the man who was cured and his parents. Jesus sought him out and He asked him if he believed in the Son of Man. He asked Jesus who the Son of Man was so that he could believe in Him. 

Jesus said to him:

"You have seen Him and the One who is speaking to you is He."

Reflection

There are so many ways we can be blind. I can remember cutting the lawn once and being very happy with how it looked. My wife came out and pointed out a spot that I totally missed. 

Then there is the spiritual blindness when I miss those times when I hurt someone's feelings or forget to reach out to someone who is ill. It is so easy to get so self-involved that we overlook our sisters and brothers who can use our help.

In our scripture from The Gospel of John, both Jesus and the man who was cured face rejection from the religious authorities. You have to admire the way they both respond to the negativity. They remain true to their beliefs.

The way Jesus cures this man is very earthy. Jesus takes some soil and His spittle and makes clay to put over the man's eyes. When he washes it away, he is cured.

This shows us how human Jesus is and how He uses the simple elements we find in nature to heal and to help others. He refuses to wait and to do the healing on another day. He reaches out to this man who has been blind for his whole life and cures him immediately. He is faithful to His mission to bring Good News to all of us, especially those who are most in need.

The man is truly remarkable. He tells everyone exactly who cured him by describing how he was cured. He tells them that it was the man who put the clay on his eyes. He even corrects the religious authorities by indicating that the man who cured him was from God. His courage is amazing.

Jesus sees this in him and reveals to him that He is the Son of Man. Jesus has opened the man's eyes on both a physical and spiritual level. He is blind no more.

Jesus comes to us today to heal our blindness. He embraced our humanity and walked with us. He knows that we struggle with our sometimes-limited vision and can walk by those who need our help.

He will be with us to put that clay on our eyes in both a physical and spiritual way. He wants to give us the courage to face rejection and misunderstanding.

As you wash your eyes in the pool of God's grace, journey with Jesus at your side to continue His ministry of healing and proclaiming the Good News!

1. Where have you encountered blindness in your life?

2. Have you faced any rejection as you have tried to spread the Gospel?

3. How has Jesus cured you of your blindness?

4. Who are those people whom Jesus wants you to heal today?

5. As you reflect on Kathy's photo, what do you see?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)