Gospel: (John 9:1-41) 

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.  While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”   When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made a clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam”—which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

Reflection: 

It is the man born blind—but who can now see—that is “sent” to bear the good news.  As beggar and sinner the man is not worth of the miracle.  But Jesus came precisely to save  sinners! In our baptism and confirmation we are anointed.  Like the man born blind in the gospel, we are transformed from not seeing(sinner) to seeing; from darkness to children of light. We are light. And also like the man born blind, we are sent to help others see and come to believe. (Living Liturgy, p.76)

Vincentian Meditation:

Before a Vincentian can be a sign of God’s love, a sign of God’s generosity, a sign of God’s service, he or she must have personal experience of God’s love, God’s generosity, God’s service. The most unfortunate people in society are those who have not had the experience of being loved.  Before loving other, we must come to the realization that we are at every moment of our lives being loved by God.  If we do not reflect often in prayer on the fact that the love of God is flowing down upon us at each moment of the day, it will be difficult for us to show love to others, to show love to the poor. May you have a love for the poor and be generous to the poor and be of service to the poor but, more importantly, may you have each day a fresh experience of God’s love, of God’s generosity and of God’s service. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.670)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence) 

            How have you experienced God’s love, God’s generosity and God’s service? 

Closing Prayer:           

O God, you are the healer of souls and so we pray:

When we are blind,

–may we find your light.

When we come to you in prayer,

–may we experience your love.

             When we serve the poor,

– may we know your generosity. Amen