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Christianity offers beautiful and efficient guidelines for a better society with promises of life to come. Christianity and its moral principles and values are not something one can sweep under the rug and ignore as nonexistent. It’s there! One must, therefore, take a stand.
Today’s Gospel shows us four different categories of individuals in Jesus’ encounter with the man born blind: the parents of the blind man, who do not want to be involved; the neighbors, who are indifferent; the Pharisees, who do not believe; and the blind man himself, a believer. We find each of these categories in today’s world: parents, neighbors, leaders and individuals. Each tries to promote their own outlook through their work and lifestyle. Where do we stand? One must take a stand, which will involve opposition. The blind man truly stands for all humanity. “Born totally in sin,” he is made a new creation by the saving power of Christ.
This event illustrates two contrary moments: the upward journey of faith and trust of the healed man and the downward descent into doubts and unbelief of those who resisted the truth. As baptized Christians, does the Lord Jesus and the philosophy of life He stands for have real impact on our lifestyle? The readings for today portray a baptismal character: “There, anoint him, for this is the one,” we hear in the first reading.
God freely chooses us just as He chose the youngest son of Jesse. At baptism, the anointing with Chrism brings out our royal dignity as “Priests, Prophets and Kings” as adopted children of God. It is God who chose us, not the other way around. We share God’s life and are filled with the Spirit, who rushes upon us in baptism [Jn.4:10; 7:38-39]. We must be appreciative as Children of Light as we enter God’s house, the Church. We must give God the praise, renew our baptismal vow: “I do believe, Lord,” and live accordingly, for “You are light in the Lord” through faith sealed with baptism, says St. Paul.
Light is a basic human symbol and a Christian identity. The journey toward the “Light” brings blessings while the refusal to see leads to darkness. We are challenged today to reflect on the direction of our spiritual life: Are we embracing the light that leads to deeper faith or are we retreating into darkness? Lent should wake us up, make us aware of what we should be as Christians. St Paul exhorts in his Epistle: “Awake, O sleeper!”
By His death and resurrection, Christ has made a path for us through the valley of sin and death, leading us to verdant pastures of the kingdom of life, the Church. We need faith to accept the rejection, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus in our own lives. We must choose the path of illumination and transformation. May God illuminate our hearts with the splendor of His grace, Amen.