John 9: “I Was Blind, and Now I See”
1. The Passing of the Light
“As He passed by, He saw a man blind from his birth.” (Jn 9:1)
The miracle begins with divine initiative: “He saw.”
The man does not cry out; Christ notices him. Grace precedes desire.
St Augustine comments:
“The blind man did not see Jesus, but Jesus saw the blind man — for we are loved before we love.”
(Tractates on John 44.1)
Physical blindness here symbolises the human condition after the Fall: incapable of perceiving God without revelation.
2. “Who Sinned, This Man or His Parents?”
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (v. 2)
The disciples reflect a common assumption: suffering must be punishment.
But Christ overturns it.
“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” (v. 3)
St Bede the Venerable writes:
“His blindness was not caused by sin but permitted for glory; the affliction becomes the stage on which grace is revealed.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.13)
Thus all suffering, rightly received, becomes the canvas of redemption.
3. “I Am the Light of the World”
“We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night comes when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (vv. 4–5)
This recalls John 8:12, yet here light is not declared only but shown — healing proves illumination.
The Fathers saw “day” as the time of grace, the life of Christ on earth; “night” as sin and unbelief.
St Augustine explains:
“He works while it is day — that is, while faith shines; for when the heart turns from the light, it becomes night.”
(Tractates on John 44.2)
Christ’s works manifest His divine origin: the light doing the work of light — making others see.
4. The Making of Clay
“He spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man’s eyes with the clay.” (v. 6)
This strange gesture unites creation and healing. Clay recalls the making of Adam (Gen 2:7); spittle, the life-giving Word proceeding from Christ’s mouth.
Thus the Creator remakes what sin had marred.
St Irenaeus writes:
“The Lord’s spittle mixed with earth signifies that He who formed man of clay now restores him by His own incarnation.”
(Against Heresies V.15)
In this sacramental action, the Fathers saw the mystery of baptism and the Incarnation intertwined.
5. “Go, Wash in the Pool of Siloam”
“He said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” (v. 7)
Siloam means Sent — a figure of Christ Himself, the One sent by the Father.
The washing prefigures baptism: obedience to the word brings illumination.
St Ambrose writes:
“He washes in the pool of Him who was sent, for baptism is effective only through Christ who is sent from the Father.”
(On the Mysteries 29)
The man’s faith is shown not in understanding, but in obedience — he goes, washes, and sees.
6. The Neighbours’ Amazement
“The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar said, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’” (vv. 8–9)
Grace changes a person so deeply that even others hesitate to recognise them.
Conversion is visible.
St Augustine comments:
“The world finds it hard to believe that the blind now see; it is astonished when sinners are illumined.”
(Tractates on John 44.5)
New sight demands new identity: the beggar becomes a witness.
7. The Interrogation by the Pharisees
“Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.” (v. 14)
Once again, mercy provokes legalism.
Christ’s healing work on the Sabbath exposes the hardness of those who prefer regulation to redemption.
St Bede writes:
“The Pharisees saw the letter but not the light; they knew the law’s rest but not the Lord of the Sabbath.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.13)
True worship honours God’s mercy above human pride.
8. Division Among Them
“Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?’” (v. 16)
Even among the learned, truth divides. Miracles do not compel belief; they invite discernment.
Faith is not sight of the eyes but vision of the heart.
St Augustine observes:
“They saw the light with the eyes, but the blindness remained within; the true miracle would be if they themselves began to see.”
(Tractates on John 44.6)
9. The Parents’ Fear
“His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know…’ They said this because they feared the Jews.” (vv. 20–22)
Fear can mute truth. The parents acknowledge the fact but not the cause.
Their timidity contrasts with their son’s growing courage.
St Ambrose remarks:
“Fear confesses halfway; faith confesses fully.”
(On the Mysteries 29)
The faith of the child often surpasses that of the parents — a recurring theme of the Gospel.
10. The Second Interrogation
“Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner.” (v. 24)
Their command to “give glory to God” is hypocrisy: they seek confession of sin in the healer, not worship of grace in the healed.
“He answered, ‘Whether He is a sinner I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.’” (v. 25)
This is the simplicity of testimony — unrefined, irrefutable.
Experience becomes evangelisation.
St Augustine writes:
“He does not yet know Christ, yet he confesses the work of Christ; thus catechumens, before they know fully, already proclaim the grace they feel.”
(Tractates on John 44.7)
Faith often begins as gratitude before it becomes theology.
11. The Mockery of the Pharisees
“You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.” (v. 28)
Pride isolates itself in the past; humility walks with the living God.
They boast of Moses yet reject the One whom Moses foretold.
St Bede observes:
“They held the staff of Moses but missed the Cross of Christ.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.13)
Scripture without faith becomes blindness with commentary.
12. The Man’s Bold Confession
“Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where He comes from, and yet He opened my eyes… If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (vv. 30–33)
The once-beggar now becomes theologian.
His reasoning is simple yet unanswerable — truth born of experience confounds pride.
St Augustine comments:
“He who was blind now enlightens the seeing; faith becomes teacher, pride pupil.”
(Tractates on John 44.8)
Grace not only opens the eyes but strengthens the tongue.
13. Expulsion from the Synagogue
“They cast him out.” (v. 34)
To be cast out of the synagogue is to be united with Christ.
Excommunication by pride becomes communion with the Saviour.
St Bede writes:
“He is cast out by the Jews, but received by Jesus; for those whom the world drives out, Christ takes in.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.13)
Thus persecution becomes beatitude.
14. Christ Finds Him Again
“Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’” (v. 35)
Christ seeks the man a second time — first to heal his eyes, now to heal his soul.
Bodily vision leads to spiritual revelation.
St Augustine observes:
“He first gave him sight of this world; now He gives him sight of Himself.”
(Tractates on John 44.9)
The divine initiative continues — grace perfecting what it began.
15. Faith and Worship
“He said, ‘Lord, I believe’; and he worshipped Him.” (v. 38)
The progression is complete: from beggar to believer, from healed to adorer.
The Greek word proskynei means full worship — acknowledgement of divinity.
St Ambrose writes:
“Faith is complete when it bends the knee; for belief without adoration is not yet faith.”
(On the Mysteries 29)
The man’s worship seals his illumination — eyes, mind, and heart now see the Light.
16. “For Judgement I Came into This World”
“That those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” (v. 39)
This paradox defines divine justice: revelation humbles the proud and exalts the humble.
St Augustine explains:
“The blind man’s sight condemns the Pharisee’s blindness; for the sinner’s humility illumines, the proud man’s learning darkens.”
(Tractates on John 44.10)
The Gospel exposes hearts as light reveals dust.
17. “Are We Also Blind?”
“Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, “We see,” your guilt remains.’” (v. 41)
Ignorance humbly confessed is nearer to grace than knowledge proudly claimed.
The Pharisees’ sin is not lack of vision but refusal to admit blindness.
St Bede concludes:
“The worst blindness is to think oneself illumined without Christ; for the eye that boasts of its own light sees nothing.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.13)
Humility is the threshold of illumination.
18. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Blindness from birth | Humanity’s fallen condition |
| Clay and spittle | Incarnation and recreation |
| Washing in Siloam | Baptism through Christ the Sent One |
| Conflict with Pharisees | Law without grace vs. light of faith |
| Worship of the healed man | Faith’s perfection in adoration |
| True sight and true blindness | Salvation through humility, not knowledge |
St Augustine summarises:
“The blind man washed his face and saw both the world and his Saviour; thus the catechumen washes in baptism and sees faith and truth.”
(Tractates on John 44.12)
19. Moral and Spiritual Application
Recognise your blindness. Grace begins where self-sufficiency ends.
Obey even before understanding. Faith is going to Siloam before you see.
Confess Christ simply. Testimony — “I was blind, now I see” — remains the strongest sermon.
Expect opposition. The light always provokes darkness.
Worship with the whole heart. Sight finds fulfilment only in adoration.
20. Christ the True Light
| Miracle | Mystery Fulfilled |
| Eyes opened with clay | Creation renewed through the Incarnation |
| Washing in Siloam | Baptismal regeneration |
| Expelled from synagogue | The believer gathered into the Church |
| Confession and worship | Salvation through faith |
| Light overcoming blindness | Christ the Light of the world conquering sin |
St Ambrose concludes:
“He who anointed the blind man’s eyes with clay anoints ours with grace; for from His very substance He gives light to our darkness.”
(On the Mysteries 29)
21. Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
You opened the eyes of the man born blind
and revealed Yourself as the true vision of the soul.
Heal our blindness, illumine our faith,
and wash us anew in the pool of Your mercy.
Let us see You, adore You, and bear witness to Your grace,
until every eye beholds Your glory in heaven.
Who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 