IV Sunday of Lent “a”
March 22, 2020
John 9, 1-41
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind
from birth.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
Today’s
gospel tells the moving story of the man who was born blind and how in his
encounter with Jesus he was cured of his blindness but more importantly how he
gained the gift of salvation. Today’s gospel like last Sunday’s and next are
especially chosen for the elect who are preparing to receive the sacraments of
initation at the Easter Vigil. This is not an ordinary Sunday, nor are we in ordinary
times. The world, the whole world is in the grips of this virus. It is hard to
think of anything else. In the midst of our angst I believe that today’s Gospel
speaks to each of us during this time. Most especially the first three verses
which I will focus on today.His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
The disciples asked Jesus why the man had been born blind? Because of his sin, or the sin of his parents. It was just a natural belief in Jesus’ time that suffering, sickness and death was a punishment, a punishment for sin. The disciples are confused, “if the man was born blind, how could he have sinned?” “It must have been his parent’s fault.”
Jesus’ answer is so loud and clear. NEITHER! Suffering is not a result of sin, neither our own sins nor the sins of our ancestors. Why do we have this Corona Virus? Is it because of the sins of China? The sins of the US? Is it because of the sinfulness of the world? And people can come up with a whole lot of sinners that don’t include themselves: the divorced, the LGBTQ community, abortion, capital punishment. The list goes on. And Jesus’ response today is the same as it was in the time of the disciples. NEITHER! NONE! NOBODY! Our God doesn’t send suffering as a punishment. It is not a result of sin. It isn’t because China sinned, or the US sinned. It isn’t because we have abortion on demand or because gay people are allowed to get married. It isn’t because the US has drifted from God. God does not work that way. It would be easy to blame it on sin. Especially if we could blame it on the sin of others. But God loves us, God does not punish us.
Then why? Why do we have this virus? Why are we ordered to stay at home? Why are we denied the ability to go to Church, to recieve the sacraments? Why have 303,001 people contracted this virus? Why have 12,944 people died from this virus? Jesus’ answer to the disciples, is our answer today. It is so the works of God be made visible through him. So the works of God be made visible through HIM! Jesus doesn’t say, “So the works of God be made visible through ME! He doesn’t say so I can show MY power. He says that God’s power is made visible through a blind man, a beggar, one of the disposables in Jesus’ society. Interesting isn’t it? The disposables of Jesus’ time are the same today. The sick, the beggars, the handicaps, the homeless.
So what Jesus is saying today is: “We have this terrible virus that has put our world into a state of fear. People are sick, people are dying, why? So that God’s power may be made visible through us. We have the chance to shine in the midst of this darkness.
I have seen some light. An amazing thing, the Republicans and Democrats, the House, Senate and White House came together to pass a bill to provide aid and relief to this country. If that isn’t a miracle what is? The politicians of Washington working together. The Mayor of Los Angeles says that crime is down and stories of people helping each other is up. Look for stories and examples of people who are helping one another. Look for light in the darkness.
But don’t just look. BE! Be the light in the darkness. In these next few weeks look for an opportunity to be the light in the darkness. I am asking anyone who has a need, especially elderly and people who are at risk to call the parish if they need something. If you would like to help please call so we can set up a bank of people in need with people who can help. Reach out to your neighbors, make sure that they are ok.
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