A Blind man – what is my attitude?

Wilson SVD

Fourth Sunday of the Lent

                1 Sam 16: 1, 6-7; Eph 5: 8-14; Jn 9: 1-41

“A few years married couple divorced.” Different people approach and interpret this event differently; the couples themselves, the parents, relatives, friends, neighbors, and church leaders, etc. Our attitude has the potentiality to either transform or destroy our lives and others. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference (Winston Churchill). Life is a journey and in this journey, inevitably, we all encounter problems, hard situations and tough times. How do we approach a problem, a tough situation? How do we respond to difficulties and hard-hitting events? What is my attitude towards people and regulations? A problem or a hard situation can be approached from different perspectives with diverse attitude. Right perspective and right attitude leads to success and amicable solution instead a wrong perspective ushers in disaster. The gospel today is built up on the contrast between light and darkness, born blindness and acquired blindness, physical blindness and spiritual blindness. Jesus and his disciples are walking along when they encounter a man born blind and Jesus dramatically makes the blind see and the blind man progressively confesses the true identity of Jesus. The entire chapter revolves around the interrogation and the presumed controversy in healing the blind man.  A narrative critical analysis of this miracle story reveals intensely, the actions and reactions, perspectives and attitudes of different persons towards the blind man. We can derive several life principles from the characters involved in this miracle story. These are vivid characters with deft and profound touches, the narrator brings our lives alive before us through these people.

The Disciples  

The disciples asked Jesus, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, he or his parents that he was born blind? The Jews generally believed in a direct cause-and-effect relationship between suffering and sin. The idea that children inherit the consequences of their parents’ sin is intertwined into the thought of the Old Testament (Gen 25:22, Ex 20:5, Num 14: 18, Is 65:7). However, the emphasis here is on the attitude of the disciples and not the causal relationship between sin and suffering. The disciples’ attitude is focused on acquiring information and not in helping or understanding the person. The concern of the disciples is not the suffering of the blind man but the cause of the blindness. Who is wrong and who was responsible? The question does not promise solution to the suffering of the blind man instead such enquiries can deepen the pain of the sufferer, creating victim attitude and guilt felling.  How do we approach a problem? What is our attitude towards persons who suffer? Oftentimes are we not focused on mere information, collecting data, nitty-gritty details that do not in any way aid alleviation of pain.  

The Parents

The parents of the blind man knew pretty well that it was Jesus that gave sight to their son. But, they were obviously uncooperative because they were afraid of the Pharisees and the political authorities. The parents conveniently escape citing the legal age of their son suitable self -testimony.  The parents did not want to involve into the issue due to the intricacies, complications and consequences they may have to face later. There is no greater betrayal for a child than to be abandoned by his parents. The children confide in the parents totally. The parents who are to defend and protect, disown him. Are there the traits of this parents in us? Do we run away from problems and peoples unwilling to face the pressures involved? Do we opportunely pass on the bug to others? Do we disown, abandon and betray people who trust us? Do I sacrifice truth and justice due to fear?

The Pharisees

The Pharisees were narrow-minded, self-righteous and bitterly power-conscious persons. They deliberately refuse to believe what they see with their naked eyes. They did not believe first that the man was born blind and they suspected that this was a miracle faked between Jesus and the man. Their carry out series of interrogation not to verify the truth but to prove that they are right. They resort to abuse the blind man, insult and accused him that he was born in sin (indicating pre-natal sin). These are people who suffer from the syndrome of voluntary unhappiness, finding fault with everything and everyone. Do we act like these Pharisees; misusing our power and position, threatening the weak, criticizing, plotting against others and finding fault with everything and everyone.

Jesus

Jesus went around sharing life and doing good. Jesus is interested in the human person and not in the root cause of the suffering, he is focused on alleviating the pain. Therefore, Jesus does not question at all, he just acts positively and affirms magnanimously. He sees in the problem an opportunity to display the works of God and helps the man live better. Affliction, sorrow, pain and disappointments are opportunities for displaying God’s grace. By helping others in trouble, we can demonstrate God’s love to them. To help another in need is to share the love of God and manifest the glory of God to others. He is least concerned about what others say and he upholds humanity over law.  When we see suffering, do we perceive it as a problem or an opportunity having a divine purpose? When someone suffers from physical or mental or spiritual impairment, what do we see in that person? An inconvenience or opportunity?

The Blind Man

The blind man is a fascinating character in this episode, who displays a perfect model of steady progression and transformation. He begins by calling Jesus a ‘man’ – a man called Jesus opened my eyes. Later, he goes on to call him a ‘prophet’ and finally confesses that Jesus is ‘the Son of God, the Messiah.’ He is dispelled from both physical and spiritual blindness. What is my understanding of Jesus?

I am more convinced from this episode that pain and adversities are powerful vehicles to promote personal and community growth. Our problems can be turned into wisdom. Our life can be made better by the things that devastate our hearts. What matters is right perspective and right attitude like Jesus. Let us celebrate life with right perspective and right attitude for life is beautiful….