Daily Journey Through the Great Fast With the Early Churchنموونە

When difficulties, trials and tribulations in life begin to plague us, what are some of the first thoughts we think? “Where are you God?” “Why are You doing this to me God?” “Why is my life like this?” “Where is my life headed?” The blindness and uncertainty of our lives lead us to ask a thousand questions but we don't have to let our burdens force a harrowing dejection upon us. No, God always has a purpose - "...that the works of God may be revealed in him" [John 9:3].

When I read the Gospel reading of today, I see myself in this poor, pitiful hopeless man born without eyes (John 9:1-11) - church fathers teach us that this man was born with no eyeballs, as was apparent from method of the miracle (the Creator created from the dirt and His saliva, similar to the way He first created man of dust and breath) and by fact that after the miracle some people could not recognize who he was, that something in his appearance changed.

Prior to Baptism, we lived in a state of darkness and in the shadow of death (Matthew 4:16). After Baptism, we have become enlightened and live in the light of Christ. Where before Baptism we lived in a state of no hope, we now, after Baptism, live in the promise of hope, as St. Paul says in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession ofourhope without wavering, for He who promisedisfaithful.” It is because of the Sacrament of Baptism that we have become enlightened and see the Light of Christ. This Light gives us hope and is what gives us joy during our difficulties, trials and tribulations - we hold on to our hope because God, who has given us a “new and living way” [Hebrews 10:20] is faithful in fulfilling His promises.

Why was the man born without eyes? Why do we, the believers, go through times of trials? What does this have to do with Baptism? Jesus gives us a reason why this man was born blind and why sometimes we go through times of trials in John 9:3-4, so “that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” Jesus allows these things to happen so that God can be glorified through us - that we can be used as a tool in the hand of God to bring others to Him.

We are enlightened at the time of Baptism and bestowed upon us at the time of Chrismation is the Holy Spirit, “the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” [‭‭John‬ ‭1:4-5‬]. He is the light of our life that enlightens us and allows us to be used as these tools in the hand of God.

In the Old Testament the outward appearance and sign of the covenant with God was circumcision of the foreskin, but also there was the circumcision of the heart that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 30:6 - “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” What is that circumcision of the heart? St. Paul says in Romans 2:29 that the “circumcision is of the heart - by the Spirit, not the letter (of the law)”. Circumcision of the heart is done by the Holy Spirit, it is a transforming of my mind and heart, it is the work of Baptism, it is the continuation of the grace of Baptism in the Sacrament of Repentance and Confession - to circumcise our heart is done in faith, hope, love, and readiness to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and become His disciple laboring for the advancement of His Kingdom.

We may live in darkness for a time like the man born blind; but God will shine His splendid light one day! Jesus shone His light on this man born blind and this man was used as a tool in the hand of His Creator, as a way to bring more glory to God and to witness to others. If need be, as He did with this man, He will create new eyes for our souls, for the old, worn vision has led us astray.

Allow the light of Christ to search your heart, to allow the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts in the Sacrament of Baptism and for us to follow God in faith and love, allowing Him to use as tools for the advancement and furthering of His kingdom.

“Some say, ‘did he suffer wrong for the glory of God?’ What wrong, tell me? For what if God had never willed to produce him at all? But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness: since he recovered the sight of the eyes within. What were the Jews profited by their eyes? They incurred the heavier punishment, being blinded even while they saw. And what injury had this man by his blindness? For by means of it he recovered sight.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]

“How greatly magnificent is the baptism that was granted to you. It is the release of captives, the forgiveness of transgressions, and the mortality of sin. It is a new birth for the soul, a garment of light, a holy seal that life-long lasts, and a chariot to the heaven. It is the joy of paradise, the hail of the Kingdom, and the adoption gift.” [St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 4th century Bishop of Jerusalem and theologian]