Liberating Mud

Fourth Sunday of Lent

March 30, 2014

John 9:1-41

“I do believe, Lord (John 9:38)”

Sickness and suffering as a punishment from God was a prevalent mentality in Jesus’ time. They were punished because of their sins and offenses. This is why in today’s Gospel we hear that a Pharisee could simply say to the blind man, “You were born sinner and now you teach us!” He was conceived with a defect in his eyes and he had to beg for living. He bore physical disability and was so poor. He must be a grave outlaw!

This was an ancient explanation of the reality of suffering, yet believe it or not, the mindset still holds sway today. When torrential rain caused severe flooding in Metro Manila just August last year, some people started making connection with God’s wrath upon the present Philippine government. They would say that we were chastised since the legislative and executive branches passed the controversial Reproductive Health Bill into a law (a legislation that supports artificial contraception). Another interpretation came from Nanay Lina (not her real name). She lived in our neighborhood, and when her house was flooded, she took refuge in Santo Domingo Church. She told her story to some of our brothers, “God punishes us because there are many drug-addicts near my area!”

Why do we think like this? Reality of suffering and of death is overwhelming, and deep inside, we cannot bear this mystery. We cannot grasp the pain and agony we have within us. Why does it take place in us? Then, to find solace, we start projecting this weakness to others who are less fortunate. “O, he got poorer than I, so I must be happy!” Worse, we transfer our imperfections to our God. If we seek revenge every time we are wronged, therefore, God must let us suffer as the expiation of His anger as well. Yet, this is a terrible mistake!  Without realizing it, we mold our God in our image and likeness and not we in His image and likeness.

Fortunately, this is not the God of Jesus, the true God of Israel.  Jesus became an instant sensation not only because He eccentrically healed people (He used a mud mixed with His saliva!), but also freed them from the negative and sickening mentality. Jesus disrupted the status quo of Jewish religious leaders as He introduced a true understanding of God. He did not only restore health, but more fundamentally, He implanted the true faith. Our God is not avenging and blood-thirsty God, but loving and merciful One. “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” This is why after the healing, Jesus often asked their confession of faith. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Jesus asked the man. He then professed his faith in Jesus, “Lord, I believe.”

Lenten season turns to be a perfect time for us to ask, “Who is our God?” Take a deep breath and pause a moment. In the depth of our hearts, we look for the honest answer: “Is He a mere reflection of our feeble humanity? Or is He the true and living God?” The truth might chill us to the bones, and we begin to resist like the Pharisees, but we need to be glad because Jesus is slowly opening our eyes and the Good News is that we may once again be formed in His image and likeness.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Rusneo, OP