What is blinding you?

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In today’s Gospel (John 9:1–41), a man born blind receives sight, while the blindness of others is revealed.

Imagine if your own son, who had never seen before, suddenly opened his eyes to the world. You would probably be jumping up and down with joy and telling everyone about the marvel. Yet the parents in John’s account, when asked what happened, seem almost dismissive: “Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” They are described not as rejoicing, but as afraid.

Imagine if a miracle unfolded in your community. You would likely rush to embrace the one graced with new vision, exclaiming, “How blessed you are! We are so happy for you!” But instead of wonder, the Pharisees turn to scrutiny. They argue that since the healing took place on the Sabbath, it was a violation of the Law.

What blinders were the parents and the Pharisees in our story wearing? What was blocking them from seeing what was right before their eyes?

For the parents, what was holding them back was a threat: “The Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged [the healer] as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue.” What was blinding them? It was the fear of what others would say and what others would do to them.

This also is the proof that the once-blind man was really able to see:

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.

While there can be wisdom in the opinions of others, allowing them to dictate what we see is blindness. How much weight do we give to what others think?

For the Pharisees, what prevented them from seeing? In a phrase: Secret scripts. These are hidden convictions or unexamined principles that shape our perceptions and interpretations of events.

One example is in the question “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). Embedded here is a secret script: Sickness and suffering are God’s punishments for sin.

But if that script is true, then that means that God is a vindictive deity. Our journey from Lent to Easter disproves this. We crucify God’s Son, but instead of revenge, we receive the Resurrection—God rising again to give us another chance.

Referring to Jesus, the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath” (John 9:16). The secret script here is: The Sabbath is absolute; if you do not observe the Sabbath, you are a sinner.

Talking to the once-blind man, the Pharisees asked, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” (John 9:34). The secret script here is: We are better than you, and we already know everything.

Today, we continue having secret scripts. For example, “I can never do anything right.” This is rarely said out loud (that’s why secret scripts are also called silent assumptions), but do you see how holding this can affect how you live your life? You will always be putting yourself down and shirking from opportunity.

On the other end of the spectrum is, “If I want something done right, I must do it myself.” If you follow this secret script, you will never delegate tasks to others, and what others produce will always be subpar.

What makes secret scripts tricky is that they had proven true in past situations. There was a time when we made a mistake. There was a time when others failed us. The dangerous thing with secret scripts is that we then project them onto each and every situation.

“That person does not like me.” While that person may have done something before that may have hurt you, not everything that person does is meant to be against you. You may have fought with that person the other day, but when that person offers to help you carry something heavy today, it doesn’t mean that he or she wants to show everyone that you are weak.

What are your secret scripts? What blinds you? These are questions that can take a lifetime to answer. Examples of secret scripts are plainly said in this reflection, but seldom are our secret scripts so obvious to us. Often, we are blind to them—as we are with many of our biases and prejudices—and that is why they also blind us.

Blindness is not the final word. Our Gospel today also proclaims what can help us see. After smearing clay on the blind man’s eyes, Jesus tells him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam.” The Gospel then reveals what Siloam means: “Sent.”

But who is the one sent? God sent us his only begotten Son. So when Jesus says, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam,” the deeper meaning is: “Wash your eyes in me… look through my eyes… this is the only way to truly see.”

Your prayer assignment this week:

Look through Jesus’ eyes. “Looking through the eyes of love” is part of the refrain of the theme song of the 1978 film Ice Castles. It is the story of Lexie Winston, a figure skater who loses her sight but takes to the ice rink again. You can watch the full movie using this link, but I have set it to start at the climax of the film. (Watch the last 10 minutes until the credits roll and Melissa Manchester sings. I hope that you don’t find it too cheesy and that it helps you pray.)

While on this earth, we will never have perfect vision. When Lexie trips and falls and someone comes to help her, imagine Jesus coming to you as you grope and reach out in your unseeing. Listen to what Lexie tells her rescuer. Then try to make the words of the song your own:

And now, I do believe
That even in a storm we'll find some light
Knowing you're beside me, I'm all right.

Fr. Francis teaches Theology, Education and Scripture at both the Ateneo de Manila University and Loyola School of Theology. As a classroom teacher, he is first and foremost a student. As a professor, he sees himself primarily as a pastor.