On our Lenten journey with Jesus we finally arrive in Jerusalem and just like last week’s encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, we once again find Jesus transforming someone’s life around a pool of water. This reminds us that the journey of Lent leads us to the renewal of the graces of baptism in each one of us at the living waters of the Easter celebrations. The pool of water in this week’s Gospel is the Pool of Siloam (a Hebrew word meaning “sent”) which contained water brought into the city by a special channel which had been cut through 400 metres of rock. This pool was a life-line for the city in times of siege or drought – it was literally “heaven sent” water of salvation just like Jesus who is the ‘living water’.

As a sign of the healing and redemption he has come to offer, Jesus meets a man born blind and gives him new sight in the waters of the pool. Of course, it is not just physical sight which Jesus gives to this man but more importantly he brings alive in him the light of faith. We see a stunning transformation in this man – at the start of the Gospel he is a nobody, indeed his blindness is seen by people as a punishment for sin – either his own or his parents. But through Jesus’ healing grace he is able to see what the religious leaders cannot – that Jesus is Lord. This most insignificant and despised man becomes a teacher to his own people and leaders.

Just as in our own journey of faith from the waters of baptism, this light grows gradually within the man who at first refers to “the man called Jesus”. Later, when questioned by the Pharisees, he says, “He is a prophet.” Finally when he comes before Jesus again, his eyes of faith are fully opened and he worships Jesus as “Lord”. This journey of ever deeper understanding of who Jesus is one we can make in our own lives. This also links to another theme running through today’s readings on how we need to learn to see the world around us as God sees it. This includes seeing the value and dignity of people whom the world dismisses as weak or ‘worthless’ today. Lord Jesus, open our eyes to our blindness and help us to see as you see!


With blessings & prayers from Fr Richard, Fr Ephrem & all the parish team
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