Light of Christ vs Hardness of Heart – Mar 15 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 15, 2026, unpacking the miracle in John 9 of the man born blind as a sign of spiritual sight, new creation, and sacramental grace.

Fr. Terrance opens with Lenten jokes on sight, tying into John 9, the man born blind. Disciples assume sin caused it (John 9:2), rooted in Deuteronomy 28:28 and Exodus 34:7, where covenant breaches or parental sins bring punishments. Life shows that sins like immorality cause diseases, and families pass dysfunction generationally. Yet Jesus corrects: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God might be made manifest" (John 9:3). Some sufferings enable greater good (Romans 8:28), like defects preventing sin or Down Syndrome preserving purity.

Jesus declares Himself light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5), granting sight apart from whom we see nothing spiritually (John 15:5). Modern blindness calls sin good, virtue fanaticism. Healing mimics God's creation of Adam (Genesis 2:7), using spit and clay as accounted by Jewish tradition and the Dead Sea Scrolls, revealing Jesus as the divine Creator, enacting the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). On the Sabbath, He shows that He is lord of it, signaling a new beginning.

Washing in Siloam ("Sent") evokes baptism as enlightenment (St. Thomas Aquinas). John's Gospel foreshadows all sacraments: baptism (John 3; 9; 19:34), confirmation (John 14-16), Eucharist (John 6), etc. Jesus, sent by Father (John 3:17), sends us to the sacraments for sight; if lost, it is regained via confession.

Pharisees, despite the miracle, harden their hearts like Pharaoh (Exodus), fulfilling John 9:39. The blind man's faith progresses: Jesus is a man, then a prophet, from God, the Son of Man/Lord (he worships Him). Like the Samaritan woman (John 4), a deeper encounter reveals Jesus as Savior (John 20:30-31). Prolong your prayer to give clarity and to witness faithfully.

For Further Reading – USCCB John 9 – Man born blind miracle – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/9
CCC 1213 – Baptism as enlightenment – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1213.htm
CCC 1116 – Sacramental economy, grace – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1116.htm
CCC 1257 – Baptism necessary for salvation – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1257.htm
USCCB Genesis 2 – Adam creation from dust – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2?7
USCCB Romans 8 – All works for good – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/8?28
USCCB John 8 – Light of the world – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/8?12
CCC 1322 - Vatican Sacraments – John Gospel allusions – https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P3W.HTM

00:00 - Introduction Jokes Sight
01:10 - Disciples Question Sin Blindness
02:35 - Sin Punishment Foundations Limits
04:00 - Jesus Light Gives Sight
05:30 - Healing Method Creation Gesture
07:00 - New Creation Sabbath Lord
08:30 - Siloam Washing Baptism Foreshadow
10:00 - John Gospel All Sacraments
12:00 - Pharisees' Spiritual Blindness Heart
14:00 - Progressive Recognition of Jesus Divinity
16:00 - Faithful Witness Conclusion

Ave Maria!

Mass: Sunday 4th Week of Lent (short) - Sunday
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/031526.cfm
1st: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Resp: Psalms 23:1-6
2nd: Ephesians 5:8-14
Gsp: John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1835

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_rrBtd2ZpE