Enlightened by Faith

Enlightened by Faith December 3, 2012
Even though Saint Paul received the gift of faith suddenly while on the road to Damascus, faith is usually received slowly as the darkness of ignorance is pierced by the ever growing light of faith.  In his Gospel, Saint John beautifully narrates the coming to faith of a man born blind, who having received his sight from Jesus, slowly comes to recognize Jesus as the Son of Man and worships him.  The process by which the man comes to believe is a challenging one, reminding us that oftentimes the journey of faith is difficult, yet it is by perseverance in trial that faith is refined and strengthened.

When asked for the first time who opened his eyes, the man born blind responds, “the man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes.”  The man born blind admits he did not know where Jesus had gone, they were strangers to each other.

Since Jesus had healed the man on the Sabbath, the man born blind was taken to the Pharisees who proceeded to question him.  The Pharisees give the man a hard time, questioning the power by which Jesus healed him, asserting Jesus did not come from God.  When asked by the Pharisees who he believed Jesus was, the man born blind now answered, “he is a prophet.”

At this point the man’s parents reject him not wanting to be involved in the investigation launched by the Pharisees.  “He is of age; question him,” they answer when asked about their son.

The Pharisees continue to harass the man born blind, insult him and finally kick him out from the synagogue.

Suddenly Jesus approaches the man and asks, “do you believe in the Son of Man?” to which the man born blind answers, “who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”  Jesus said, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.”  The man said, “I do believe Lord,” and he worshiped Jesus.

The man’s journey of faith is one of gradual enlightenment.  First he considered Jesus just a man, but after enduring heavy questioning, he acknowledged him as a prophet, and finally after being humiliated and kicked out from the synagogue, he makes a profession of faith, “I do believe Lord,” and worships Jesus.

Just as Jesus opened the man’s eyes so he could see light and no longer live in darkness, Jesus opened the man’s eyes of faith to move from ignorance to faith.  The narrative of the man born blind reminds us that the gift of faith oftentimes comes gently as we move from darkness into light.  It also reminds us that when growing in faith, triumph never comes without a struggle.  Christ enlightens us with the gift of faith; our duty is to keep the flame always alive so we may be ready to greet him when we will see him face to face.
The Pool of Siloam (Jerusalem 2006) where the blind man washed and regained his sight

Pictures are mine, all rights reserved.


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