In the scriptures, things are frequently not what they appear. Things are turned upside down: the last are first, the servant is the master. Almost all of these stories illustrate that what we SEE is not always the reality. As we hear in the first reading, it is God who sees through to the heart of the matter, to the heart of the human person.

In today's gospel story, who is blind? Who is living in darkness? Contrasts and ironies abound. One man begged in darkness and emerged into the light; others had eyes but could not see.

There are two distinct journeys -- one man moves slowly toward the vision of faith, others move slowly away. Increasingly through the dialogue, one man's vision grows, physically and symbolically, while the vision of the Pharisees narrows and confines.

Those blessed with sight could not see. They could read the law, but could not always see the see the reality. They seem to be out of touch with humanity, and appear to be out of touch even with each other as they "were sharply divided over him."

Contrast that with Jesus. He is very much in touch with the human condition. He has compassion, feeling with those who suffer. In this story, "blindness from birth" is both a physical & spiritual affliction. Jesus is in touch with both.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, substitute order, structure, and law for compassion which they lack. They are afraid, or incapable to feel for another, and unwilling to admit their fears, they seek to control.

The desire, the need, to control is a response to anxiety. We all seek to control situations which make us anxious, or which we do not understand. These controllers make rules, not for the sake of people, but in order to maintain their order. We see this again and again in families (we call them dysfunctional), in the corporate world, in universities, in our government, and yes, sometimes even in the Church. This need to control, rising out of fear, is unhealthy and unspiritual.

The message of John's gospel is that Jesus loves all the characters in this story: the controlling Pharisees, the struggling disciples, the fearful parents, the blind man himself. God loves them all, and has a lesson for each of them.

Annually, the season of Lent challenges us to do, exactly what Jesus does today, to look at our lives. As the Elect (catechumens) the world over under go the scrutinies, examining what evil forces still have a grip on their lives, we too must ask ourselves those same questions.

In light of the gospel and in solidarity with our Elect here at St. Thomas Aquinas, we ask ourselves: where am I blind? Where/when do I lack compassion? What scares me and tempts me to control rather than to love? When do I doubt God's love for me, for others?

The message of John's gospel is clear. Jesus loves us all, where ever we are in our spiritual journey. In Genesis, the human family is created out of the mud of the earth. We must allow this Jesus to smear mud on us -- symbolically recreating us. Jesus invites us to grow into a deeper relationship with God and with others. And that requires of us the same things demanded of the man born blind - to trust, to have faith in Jesus. No easy task.

That is why we sing: Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death and darkness in life and light.