Today’s Gospel is a story of Jesus and the beggar born blind. In fact, the summary of today’s doctrine could be in one sentence: walk as Children of the Light.

The story of the man blind beggar mirrors the Christian journey from spiritual darkness to light. Born blind, symbolizing our state of original sin and lack of spiritual vision, the man encounters Jesus, the Light of the World.

Jesus heals him, not by assigning blame, but through a process involving spittle and clay, followed by washing in the Pool of Siloam; a clear prefigurement of Baptism, which enlightens us.

Initially, the healed man has only partial perception, knowing Jesus merely as “the man called Jesus.” He progresses later to seeing Jesus as a prophet, then as someone “from God.” He then boldly defends Jesus before the Pharisees. His courage inspires us to stand up for our faith, even when challenged. This illustrates how baptism, faith, and enduring challenges lead us to fully see and embrace Christ.

The story is linked to the second scrutiny for it so exemplifies the progression of faith which we experience in the OCIA process leading to the reception of the Sacraments on Easter Vigil.

A new life, a new creation, is born. Suddenly, out of the darkness of the blind beggar’s heart and his life, there comes a bright and shining light that takes him out of his sorrow and pain, or whatever it happens to be, and lifts him up so that he can walk freely and become a full person and love and care and reach out. No longer will he blind man stumble about in darkness.

The Son of Man has come into the world to rescue us from darkness, accompanies us in this life as our Light and Shepherd (Psalm 23, Resp. Psalm) and leads us to the splendor of the faith, as we pray in today’s Preface.

Hence there is the need to Rejoice. As we celebrate this Sunday called Laetere (Rejoice), when the Lenten purple is lightened to rose, let us ask for the grace to see ourselves, our faults, our infirmities, but most of all to see and follow the Light of Christ, so that we may “live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast, Is 66: 10-11. (Entrance Antiphon).