杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

鈥淚t is not enough to receive light鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. We need to 鈥渂ecome light鈥� in order to manifest it with our whole life鈥�.

The Light of the world

The 杏MAP导航 was reflecting on the liturgical readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. St John鈥檚 Gospel recounts the episode of the man born blind to whom Jesus gives sight. 鈥淭he theme of light鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, is 鈥渁t the centre鈥� of this Sunday鈥檚 liturgy.

The miracle Jesus performs confirms His affirmation that He is 鈥渢he light of the world鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis: He is 鈥渢he light that brightens our darkness鈥�. This applies to both the 鈥減hysical level and the spiritual level鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 continued. The blind person first receives the gift of physical sight, and then the spiritual gift of faith in Jesus. The wonders Jesus performs are not 鈥渟pectacular gestures鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis, they lead to faith 鈥渢hrough a journey of inner transformation鈥�.

The light of faith

鈥淭he Pharisees and doctors of the law refuse to acknowledge the miracle鈥�, continued the 杏MAP导航. They interrogate the healed man. But he confuses them with a simple statement of fact: 鈥淚 was blind and now I see鈥�. Gradually, he comes to realize 鈥渢he identity of the one who opened his eyes鈥�, and confesses his faith in Him. The healed man recognizes Jesus 鈥渁s one who comes from God鈥�. He welcomes Jesus 鈥渁s the Messiah, and prostrates himself before Him鈥�.

Seeing life in a new light

鈥淢ay we too can have this experience!鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淲ith the light of faith, he who was blind discovers his new identity鈥�. He sees his life and the world around him in a new light, and is 鈥渘o longer a slave to blindness and prejudice鈥�. The blind man鈥檚 path of enlightenment 鈥渋s a metaphor for the path of liberation from sin to which we are called鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淪in is like a dark veil that covers our face and prevents us from clearly seeing ourselves and the world鈥�. God鈥檚 mercy removes the 鈥渟hadows and darkness鈥�, and gives us new light, he added. 

Becoming light

The blind man who is healed now sees 鈥渨ith both the eyes of the body and those of the soul鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淏ut it is not enough to receive light, one must become light鈥�, added the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淓ach one of us is called to receive the divine light in order to manifest it with our whole life鈥�. 

鈥淢ay Mary Most Holy help us to imitate the blind man of the Gospel鈥�, concluded the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渟o that we can be flooded with the light of Christ, and set out with Him on the way of salvation鈥�.