The Son of God separates light from darkness, for all of eternity

A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for Fourth Sunday of Lent | Carl E. Olson

Readings:
• 1 Sam. 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
• Psa. 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
• Eph. 5:8-14
• Jn. 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

Streams of light shine brightly and streaks of darkness run deeply throughout Scripture, from start to finish, beginning with the opening verses of Genesis: “And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness” (Gen. 1:3-4).

St. John’s Gospel opens with a purposeful parallel of Genesis 1, describing the Incarnate Word as the “light of men,” explaining, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn. 1:4-5). “I am the light of the world,” Jesus proclaimed, “he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12). This, of course, increased the conflict between the light and darkness, and some of the religious leaders sought to stone Jesus immediately prior to the events in today’s Gospel reading (see Jn. 8:58-59).

The story of the Jesus healing the man born blind reveals dramatically how some choose to embrace light and life while others desperately submerge themselves in darkness and death. Whereas God, in Genesis 1, separated the light from the darkness in creating the world, St. John describes the God-man separating the light from darkness—first, in performing a physical miracle and, secondly, in shining the light of faith on the blind man. The man born blind embarked on a remarkable journey into the light, even as the Pharisees stumbled further into the darkness.

Jesus’ act of making mud from his spittle and smearing it on the man’s eyes was completely gratuitous; the man had apparently not said anything. Rather, he listened and obeyed, matter-of-factly telling his astounded neighbors that Jesus had told him to wash in the pool of Siloam, “So I went there and washed and was able to see.” He knew Jesus had healed him, but little else. Yet he must have spent time mulling over the miracle, for when the Pharisees pressed him about the identity of Jesus, he said, “He is a prophet.”

This growth in spiritual vision paralleled the physical transformation from being blind to having sight. And it continued, for when questioned a second time by the Pharisees—who arrogantly claimed they knew Jesus was a sinner—the man mocked their refusal to accept his testimony and the obvious fact of the miracle. They, for their part, unwittingly admitted the truth: “We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.”

So, the man born blind initially knew little, but grew quickly in true knowledge, while the Pharisees, who claimed to know much, demonstrated how they could be taught nothing about God—or by God. The man made an astute theological deduction: since only someone from God could heal him of blindness, Jesus was from God, and was thus devout and holy. Rather than admit their mistake and acknowledge their blindness, the Pharisees stamped the man a sinner and cast him out. “So great is the blindness of men,” wrote St. Augustine woefully in his Confessions, “who even glory in their blindness!”

There was one final step for the man to take into the light of faith. Again, it was Jesus who sought him out and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” God, the lover of mankind, keeps offering faith, often through prodding questions: Who am I? Do you believe in me? Do you need me? The man, upon learning that he was gazing on the face of the Son of Man, simply said, “I do believe, Lord”—and worshipped Jesus.

The final chapter of the Bible, describing God’s servants worshipping the Lamb in heaven, states, “they shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light…” (Rev. 22:3-5). At the end of history, the Son of God separates light from darkness, for all of eternity.

(This "Opening the Word" column originally appeared in the March 14, 2010, edition of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper.)

Comments

[JPK]

"... And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light ...”

Carl, once again an insightful reflection on the Sunday gospel. Thank you for all you do to illuminate the deeper meaning of the readings. It is most helpful and appreciated. God bless you!

[Carl E. Olson]

Thanks, JPK, for the kind words!