A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday of Lent

In this Sunday’s Gospel,  Jesus reveals to a man born blind both the gift of sight and the light of faith which brings salvation.  Furthermore John, great dramatist that he is, presents the story in the light of a great irony, i.e. that those who consider themselves to be living in the light of faith (the Pharisees), are actually the persons most in the dark.  And what is at the heart of their darkness, according to John?  A stubborn refusal to accept that Jesus comes from God, held so strongly as to justify the diminution of  other people’s extraordinary life experiences, including reception of sight by a man born blind.

Can you relate in any way to the man born blind?  Have you ever known others to refuse to share in your joy or diminish your personal experience in a nasty or hostile way?  Sadly, I think such experiences are on the rise as an aggressive form of secularism sugar-coats selfishness and denies our  religious nature.
It takes great strength of character today to openly profess one’s faith.  Even children at the latter  stages of primary school are getting a subliminal message that religion is a private matter.

And where is the risen Christ in the midst of our personal present day challenges and upheavals?  I dare suggest he is here with us, that he has gathered us, and puts to us the same question he put to the man who received his sight:  ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’

Taking Our Hearts to the Lord, Scripture Sharing Group Resource, Lent 2017