Pastor's Reflection - March 15, 2026

Healing Our Blindness

On a day when Jesus heals a man born blind, the light of God breaks into darkness in a way that surprises everyone involved. The neighbors and religious leaders want to know how this happened. The man who was healed simply tells the truth: “I was blind, and now I see.” His testimony is both simple and powerful. It invites us to notice how encounters with Christ can change the most ordinary parts of our lives.

This story challenges two common assumptions. First, it upends the idea that suffering is always a direct punishment for sin. Jesus makes clear that the man’s blindness is not a moral judgment to be explained away. Instead, it becomes the occasion for God’s works to be revealed. Second, the story exposes the blindness of those who think they see perfectly. The religious authorities claim spiritual insight, yet they refuse to accept evidence that challenges their expectations. The man who once had no sight gains clarity not only of his eyes but of who Jesus is. The leaders who pride themselves on knowledge grow more entrenched in darkness.

I once attended a workshop where the speaker outlined the difference between Jesus curing people and when people were healed. Curing refers to the removal of disease and physical restoration. Healing denotes a broader, deeper restoration that includes physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual wholeness. Healing addresses meaning, forgiveness, identity, and reintegration into community. It can be gradual and ongoing, not limited to the body. This is one of the reasons why Dr. Bob Schuchts from the John Paul II Healing Center has retreats called “Healing the Whole Person.” Integration of our mind, body, and heart is a beautiful work of God’s grace and a sign of our redemption in Christ.

Lent invites us to examine where we are blind. Are we unable to see the pain of our neighbor because we explain it away? Do we cling to traditions and opinions that keep us from recognizing God at work? The man’s journey moves from physical darkness to sight, and then to a deeper recognition of Jesus. His healing is an invitation to truth and a call to speak the truth. Even when questioned or harassed, he refuses to recant what he has seen.

As a parish family this season, we can practice opening our eyes. Spend time in prayer asking God to show one thing about yourself that you cannot see. Listen to someone whose experience differs from yours. Offer hospitality rather than judgment. Share a simple testimony of how God has worked in your life. Small acts of honesty and compassion help the light grow in places of doubt and fear.

In Christ,

Fr. James Northrop, Pastor