SCRIPTURE 9:1-41
the man born blind.
As he 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. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?
Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “[So] how were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay* and opened his eyes on a Sabbath….. some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath.” [But] others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them….so they summoned his parents… Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?
His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself. His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, He is of age; question him.
So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him…What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?
They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from. The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything. They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us? Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he. He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind. Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we? Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.
REFLECTION
This Scripture reading begins with Jesus encountering a man born blind on the Sabbath. His disciples ask Jesus, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind. Back then it was just assumed especially by the religious leaders that if you were sick you were also a sinner.
While it is true one of the consequences of Original Sin is suffering and a broken human nature, it does not necessarily mean that a specific personal sin is responsible for a current affliction. However, we may bring on that affliction by our own personal sinful behavior.
Jesus asserts, While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. This means He can conquer the darkness of sin and its consequences, including death. Bring on the light, especially this Advent season.
The curing of this blind man is different than other healings. It reminds us of the story in the Old Testament of Elisha the prophet curing Naaman the leper. 2 Kings 5:1-19 Jesus tests this blind man’s faith by giving him instructions on how to cooperate in God’s grace
When the formerly blind man is brought before the Pharisees all they could see is a legalistic point of view, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath. Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus says this about the Sabbath, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mark 2:27 The Sabbath was not intended to be a burden like the rules Pharisees made up but a time of rest and worship and refreshment in the presence of God.
Who is really blind in this story? You guessed it! So these blind Pharisees summon his parents to testify They are looking for physical evidence of a spiritual mystery. But the clincher is when they summon the blind man again and they get their comeuppance. The blind man bears witness to the Pharisees, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?
After the young man was thrown out, Jesus found him and gave him solace, Do you believe in the Son of Man?” the blind man answered and said, “Who is he, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he. He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
SCRIPTURE 10:1-20
the good shepherd.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold* through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech,* they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.
So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep* that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.
REFLECTION
Jesus is the gate keeper. We can’t sneak into heaven. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus opens the gate for his sheep. Are we among His herd? Jesus walks ahead of His sheep and they follow him. Do we follow Jesus? His sheep will not follow strangers. Do we follow strange gods, idols? Where our treasure is so will be our heart. Whoever enters through me will be saved. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other!
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…Are we good shepherds to others? Are we willing to deny ourselves and lay aside our wants and needs to address the needs of others even those we call enemies? Are we envious of others, hold grudges, anger, resentment in our hearts? If so, let’s purify those hearts before purgatory in the next life by seeking and nourishing the virtues of mercy and humility.
I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me. I have other sheep* that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. I find this very encouraging. We all know people who have walked away from the sheepfold or were never apart of it.
Jesus has his way of seeking those outside the fold. We cooperate in this search on earth by spreading the Good News and prayers and sacrifices. God wills the salvation of all but also respects free will. Pray for conversion of sinners that they may find themselves back in the care of the Good Shepherd.
Let us also pray for ourselves that we hear his voice at the Last Judgment, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Matthew 25:34
SCRIPTURE 10:22-39
feast of the dedication.
The feast of the Dedication* was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?* If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you* and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,* and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.
The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me? The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God. Jesus answered them…,
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize [and understand] that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then] they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.
REFLECTION
The Feast of Dedication is a Jewish festival mentioned in John 10:22–23. Today, this Jewish festival is perhaps better known as Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights. This winter holiday is an eight-day festival observed which occurs in late November or December depending on the Jewish calendar. During the Feast of Dedication, Jews celebrate the dedication of the second temple as recorded in the books of First and Second Maccabees in the time between the Old and New Testaments.
If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you* and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. The spiritually blind (works of the Father) and deaf (words of Jesus) will never recognize Jesus. They are too filled with themselves and their agendas. Busyness and noise fill their hearts and there is no room in the inn.
Plainly, Jesus declares His divinity in this passage. The Father and I are one. One God three Divine Persons.
The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus answered them, I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me? The Jews could not deny the good works but could not accept Jesus’ claim of divinity. Still today there are those who would deny Jesus’ divinity. Reject Jesus at your own peril!