The Word Of Peace
Homiletic Reflections On Peacemaking

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Blind Man-Giving Witness

John 9

"A man told about a trip with his little boy, two and a half years old. It was the first time the father ad the boy had been away by themselves--just the two of them. The first night spent in an hotel, the father moved his bed close to the little boy's, and when they were both tucked in, he turned out the light. After a few minutes, a little voice said: "It sure is dark, isn't it ?" "Yes," said the father, "it's pretty dark, but everything is all right." There was silence for a few more minutes, and then a little hand reached over and took the father's hand. "I'll just hold your hand," said the little boy," "in case you get scared."

Yes, sometimes the darkness is scary ! We want to live with the lights on; we want to know what's in front of us--all around us. Yet, we know sometimes the light is more frightening or challenging. For, once in the light, we "see"; and when we see we may be asked to describe who we see!!

That is the Word for today. A blind man receives his sight from Jesus, while others who think they "see" are instead shrouded in darkness. This story, so typical of John's gospel, describes a physical miracle that has a spiritual meaning. Think of the basic outline of the story. A man, blind from birth, in darkness, that is, ignorant of the truth--is given sight by Jesus. In an act of "new creation" this man gets his sight. He washes--that is, gets baptized--and "sees." But his sight is only partial, isn't it ?

This man comes to a deeper understanding of Jesus through a trial. He is cross-examined by the Pharisees, witnesses are brought--even the man's parents are asked to testify ! And this is an important part of the story. John is saying that all Christians are to testify to the light, the reality of Jesus, when the trial comes ! There can be no equivocation--like the parents in the story--and no "fence-sitting." For John, Christianity is on trial and all of the baptized are called to give testimony concerning the light they see, Jesus Christ.

And herein lies the central concern of John ! Only in the midst of trial, remaining steadfast and giving testimony, can one, and the whole Christian community, come to know Jesus as the Lord. And we know that this will sometimes entail a cost.

Such a commitment and testimony may mean being "run out" of the familiar place. It means rejection by some, even those closest to us. The man was thrown out of the synagogue--out of his people, only to be met by Jesus himself, who heard of his plight. It is there that he comes to know Jesus as the Lord and Messiah, the Good Shepherd who comes to the aid of the sheep. Now the man really has his sight !

All of us, and all of Christianity confronts the trial in the real world. It is not a mythic world in which we are called to give testimony, but in this very world ! In its joys and sorrows; in its achievements and shortfalls; in its humanity and diabolical outbreaks of evil, the Christian and the Christian community is called to give testimony to Jesus Christ in word and deed.

Such an example are the students that published the underground paper, "The White Rose," in Nazi Germany. Sophie and Hans Scholl, Christoph Probst, Alexander Schmorell and Willi Graf--read like an honor roll of those who gave testimony to the Lord during a great time of trial. They were tried and not found wanting. Young, vibrant and faithful college students who had the faith and the courage to do what their parents would not.

Such a witness of faith and courage led a Prof. Huber to throw in his lot with the students. Eventually, they were arrested, interrogated, tried and beheaded. Before going to her death young Sophie Scholl was able to see her parents. Her mother, weeping said, "Keep faith in Jesus." Sophie replied, "Yes, You too."

What gave them the courage to accept their sight and remain faithful to their baptismal promises? I suspect it was the growing insight they came to of the identity of Jesus as Lord--that they came to know in giving testimony in the words and deeds of their lives!

Perhaps they heard those words, "I'll just hold your hand in case you get scared." And so it was easier for them to say, "I do believe, Lord"--and they worshipped him!

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Uploaded January 14, 2000