Christ Gives a Blind Man Sight

Fr Michael Rasicci’s homily for the 4th Sunday in Lent, 03/19/2023, Calvary Episcopal Church, Batavia, IL

In today’s Gospel, John 9: 1-47, Jesus Christ gives a blind man sight who was blind from birth. In those days, the Jewish people believed that handicaps were caused by sin by the person with the handicap or by his relatives or ancestors. A blind beggar could not enter the Synagogue and would even be shunned by family. By giving the blind man his sight, Jesus Christ restored more than sight to him. The formerly blind man had a new life. To receive his sight, the blind man had to wash in a pool–in the picture.

This is also symbolic of baptism, with people baptized by water and the Holy Spirit. As we read more about the blind man, we see that he is becoming more aware of Spirit through the reading, eventually recognizing Jesus Christ as Lord and worshiping him.

Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5: 8-14; John 9: 1-41)

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