Trusting Experience

Jesus MAFA 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.
Jn 9,30-34

How dare a sinful man try to teach anything to the Pharisees? After expressing their outrage, the Pharisees threw the man out. What little regard they had for the miraculous that stood before them! What blindness they exhibited; those who claimed to see!

The man cured of blindness stuck to his story and refused to repeat it again when it was met with unbelief. He was unbowed by the authority of those in positions of power not because of his learning or holiness. He stood unflinching before them because he knew what he had experienced: Jesus rubbed mud on his eyes, commanded him to wash it off, and now, blind from birth, he could see. Who can argue with that?

Pharisees, evidently. Those so caught up in rules (can’t heal on the Sabbath) or threatened by what they cannot control or understand.

The blind man has something to teach all of us. We should trust in our personal experiences of God-with-Us. Those experiences most likely did not occur in a church building. Perhaps they did not happen “according to the rules.” Those moments may not have resulted in physical miracles, but they healed hearts. They renewed spirits. They gave strength.

Today is Latare Sunday. We are more than halfway through Lent. Rejoice! the Latin word commands. This is a good day to reflect on the gospel and remember times God has touched us through prayer, through others, through the glories of creation. We remember times when God has walked with us through suffering, or remains our sole hope.

We read the gospel and pray to have the eyes of our hearts open to recognize God’s transforming Presence within us, rejoice, and rest in that comforting embrace.
© 2011 Mary van Balen