Sunday Inbox Inspiration: March 19, 2023: 4th Sunday of Lent, March 19, Cycle A

 4th Sunday of Lent

Cycle A

March 19, 2023          5pm 

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton 

 A Blind Spot

There is a story about a man named Joe who had just sat down at his desk to begin his workday.
 
One of his associates, a guy named Greg, came running in, breathless and with the color drained from his face. Greg said, “I was almost killed.
 
“I had stopped at the deli where I buy an egg salad sandwich every morning. Then I got onto the interstate and within two miles it happened.
 
“This red sports car came speeding up on my right side and cut over right in front of me. I mean, he had to be going eighty and he came within inches of hitting me. 
 
“And then he drifted into the lane to my left and sideswiped the car there. I mean, it was terrifying.
 
“That car sideswiped the jersey barrier and, in an instant, two other cars were hit, and all the traffic came to a screeching stop. I mean, I came so close to getting killed.” 
 
Greg added: “I could have died there and then. It could have been all over.”
 
There was a moment of silence, and then Joe spoke.  “So, do you eat an egg salad sandwich every morning?”  
  

Blind Spots 

 
Well, Joe got so focused on the egg salad sandwich that he was blind to the terror his associate had just experienced.
 
In today’s gospel, Jesus gives sight to a man who was born blind. But he is also speaking to the rest of us – telling us to be aware of our blindness or blind spots.
 
Sometimes we can be just like Joe in that office. Probably we all have some spiritual blindness or blind spots that keep us from seeing things as they are. 
 
In this gospel, we see three of the causes of our spiritual blind spots.
 

Cause 1: Preconceptions

 
First, preconceptions or preconceived ideas cause blind spots. Jesus’ apostles believe that physical disabilities like blindness are caused by sin.  
 
Jesus straightens out their thinking and tells them that no one’s sin caused this. But it’s pretty clear that this preconception causes a blind spot in the apostles, and they look down on this man and his parents.
 
Preconceptions can also cause spiritual blindness in us. For example, I saw a media report that promotes a preconception about anyone who uses food stamps or other forms of government assistance.
 
No question, there can be abuses, but sometimes our preconceptions lead us to blame the poor for their situation and look down on them. So, preconceptions like this create blind spots and keep us from seeing others as persons like us.    
 

Cause 2: Fear

 
Then fear can also cause blind spots. The parents of the man born blind are afraid to understand how their son has gained his sight.  
 
They are afraid that they will be alienated from the synagogue and their friends. Their fear causes a blind spot and keeps them from seeing the truth about Jesus.
 
Fear can also cause spiritual blindness in us. Maybe we refuse to talk with a friend about some tensions in our relationship because we are afraid of what they might say about us.
 
We are afraid that we will have to admit to some thoughtlessness on our part also. So, our fear can cause a blind spot and keep us from seeing the truth about ourselves.
 

Cause 3: Self-Interest

 
And finally, self-interest can cause blind spots. The religious leaders in this gospel story feel very threatened by Jesus.  
 
They wonder what will happen to them if people continue to flock to Jesus. This self-interest causes a blind spot and locks them into ways that are harmful.
 
Self-interest can also cause spiritual blindness in us. Self-interest can cause a supervisor to refuse to listen to criticism because it might call into question their competence.
 
The supervisor blocks the ideas and just continues as they have been doing. So, self-interest can create a blind spot, and this can keep us stuck in bad behavior.
 

Conclusion

 
So, Jesus today is calling each of us to take the position of the man born blind and admit our spiritual blindness or blind spots.   
 
And from this passage, we are to see – to see how our preconceptions, our fears, and our self-interest can cause blind spots in us. Jesus wants to heal us of that blindness and open our eyes.    
   
 
Fr. Michael Schleupner