Sunday of the Blind man

[Mary Naeem]

Sunday of the Blind man

The blind man sees Christ the Saviour, with the eyes of his soul

The Gospel reading refers to a man blind from birth. What better, more beautiful and desirable, than for the eyes of a blind man to be opened! The blind man believed in Christ and received healing. He is blind, however he sees Christ the Saviour, with the eyes of his soul.
And while God intervenes and gives His light to the blind man the Pharisees are annoyed, and react with hostility. As a result of sin, man is perverted to such a degree that he sees even good things as bad and so judges them. Who of us does not have a Pharisee living inside of him! This becomes clear the instant God allows something difficult to happen in our lives. And while God, with that which he concedes, helps the eyes of our souls to open and see Him, we react against it. We do not trust in Him.
About this, our lack of faith, Jesus said: “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. ”Man must see his sin and humble himself. When you have an idea about yourself -you think you’re something great, that you know it all – this attitude of yours prevents God from illumining the eyes of your soul. And yet, the more you spiritually advance and see your sin, the more you are disappointed and despair in yourself. And then, however, something odd happens: while feeling you are blind, you begin to see. You see your sin by the grace of God, which illumines you, purifies you, and saves you.

Holy Hesychasterion “The Nativity of Theotokos” Publications.

Archimandrite Symeon Kragiopoulos