SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

As we prepare spiritually during the holy Nativity fasting period, a preparation for the coming of the True Light into the world at Christmas, the Holy Church is reminding all the faithful that we all live in darkness, that each one of us is spiritually blind to some degree. Many, sadly, are not able to see it and that is because the condition of our heart has been injured by our sinful life and therefore is suffering from blindness. Jesus says, "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire" [Matthew 18:9]. The reference to mutilating parts of the body suggests decisive action to avoid sin, not liberal amputation. Again Jesus says, "Blessed are the PURE OF HEART, for they SHALL SEE GOD" [Matthew 5:8]. The PURE OF HEART are devoted to the worship and service to God. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, they practice all virtue.

A pure heart is a spiritually healthy heart. A heart that is not dominated by sinful passions, a heart free of anger and hate, a heart full of love and a heart filled with compassion and lovingkindness. A righteous heart that is touched by the Grace of God. Agape is not merely an emotion. It is a divine grace–an uncreated divine energy–which inflames the soul and unites it to God and to other people. A heart that holds fast to the light and is nurtured by the word of God.

As long as we are spiritually blind we must follow the example of the two blind man and just like them cry out, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David," however, in our case as Christians we would say, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of God. Jesus knew beforehand what they want–and what we want. But He calls us to ask freely that He might answer us in mercy. The Holy Apostle John says, "He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes" [1 John 2:10-11].

To love God (to be "in the light"), is also to love each other. The Venerable Bede writes, "Anyone who comes hating his brother to the font of life where he is to be reborn (Baptism), to the cup of the Precious Blood (Holy Communion) whereby he is to be redeemed, even though he may think he is enlightened by the Lord, is still in darkness. He cannot in any way have put off the darkness of his sins when he did not take care to put on the fundamentals of love."

"And Jesus said, For judgment have come into the world, that those who do NOT see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, ‘Are we blind also?’ Jesus said to them, if you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains" [John 9:39-41]. Having opened the blind man’s eyes, Jesus also OPENS THE EYES OF HIS HEART (NOUS) OFFERING SPIRITUAL ILLUMINATION. The man, ‘seeing’ the Divinity of the Son of Man, "worshipped Him." Jesus’ coming brought "judgment" by increasing the accountability of those who saw and heard Him, but DID NOT BELIEVE. The brilliance of Christ’s Light becomes an illumination for some, but A BLINDING GLARE TO OTHERS. Christ tells the Pharisees that they, not the blind man, ARE ALIENATED FROM GOD. They are blind, and false shepherds of God’s people. [ Resources: The New Testament]

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in HIs Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George