Homily 73: On the Sixth Sunday after Pascha, the Teaching of Saint John Chrysostom on the Gospel concerning the Blind Man #

Christ our God prepares for us a spiritual banquet from the words of the Gospel and summons the faithful that we all may delight in His wonders. At that time, Jesus, walking with His disciples, saw a man who had been born blind, for there were no visible signs of eyes upon him. Concerning this man, the disciples questioned the Lord, saying, “Master, who did sin—this man or his parents—that he was born blind?”

The disciples asked thus because they did not know. But the Lord revealed the truth to them, saying: “How could this man have sinned before he was born? And it is not just that a child should suffer for the sins of his parents, but rather, each shall receive according to his own deeds.” Again Jesus said to His disciples: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” For He desired to give light not only to the eyes of his body, but also to the eyes of his soul.

Jesus said, “That the works of God might be made manifest.” This He said of Himself, not of the Father—for the glory of the Father had already been revealed, and it was fitting that it also be revealed in Him. Therefore He added: “I must work the works of Him that sent Me.”

And having said this, He spat upon the ground and made clay from the spittle and anointed the eyes of the blind man, so that it might be openly shown to all that He is the One who made Adam from the dust of the earth. And He sent the man to the pool of Siloam, that He might teach us to be obedient to instruction. The blind man washed and returned, seeing.

The neighbors, seeing this, said, “Is this not he who sat and begged alms?” Others said, “He is like him.” But the man himself said, “I am he.” For this reason, the Lord sent him to Siloam—that the people might behold the astonishing and glorious miracle.

The Evangelist speaks also of the humility of the Lord, that He visited even the poor, that we too might learn not to despise orphans, nor to wrong them, but rather to provide for them and show them mercy.

The blind man was so truthful that he confessed to the Jews that Christ had healed him. They asked him, “Where is He?” He replied, “I know not.” For Jesus, performing miracles, would withdraw because of the crowds. They brought the man to the Pharisees, hoping to frighten him into denying the miracle. They asked him, “How did you receive your sight?” And he bore even greater witness: “I washed,” he said, “and now I see.”

Why then do you call Him a sinner? A sinner cannot perform such miracles. But they said, “He breaks the Sabbath and is an opponent of the Law.” Then they summoned his parents and questioned them. They said, “This is our son, who was born blind; but how he now sees, we know not.”

O hardness of heart and accursed deceit! A second time they asked the parents, “If he is your son, and if he was born blind, how then does he now see?” Again they said, “This is our son, born blind; as to how he now sees, ask him yourself.” And the Pharisees questioned the blind man again: “Tell us how you received your sight. We know that this man is a sinner.”

The man answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I know not. One thing I do know: that He worked a marvelous wonder upon me.” And again the Pharisees questioned him—not wishing to learn, but that they might accuse the Lord, because of the Sabbath. But the man who had received his sight mocked them, saying: “I told you many times and you did not listen. Will you also become His disciples?”

Thus he revealed himself as a disciple of Christ. But the Pharisees said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses.” O lawless ones! Had you believed Moses, you would not have blasphemed the Lord—for Moses is His servant.

The man who had been healed said, “Can a sinner perform such signs? We know that God does not hear sinners, but if a man be devout and does His will, him He hears. From the beginning of the world it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of one born blind.” Others had been healed of blindness, but not those born blind; rather, those who had become blind through illness. But this miracle is truly wondrous.

The Pharisees, unwilling to hear the truth he spoke, reviled him, saying he was born in sins, and they cast him out of the synagogue.

O sons of lies, who hate the truth! But afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and comforted him, saying: “Dost thou believe in the Son of God?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe on Him?” Jesus said to him, “It is He who hath healed thee, and who speaketh with thee.” The man immediately showed the fruit of faith, saying: “I believe, Lord!” and he worshiped Him.

Let us also believe, brethren, in the Almighty Lord who worketh wondrous miracles, that He may have mercy on us and bring us into His Kingdom. To Him be glory, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.