HOLY PASCHA

May 20, 2012

sUNDAY OF THE BLIND MAN

CHRIST IS RISEN!  

INDEED HE IS RISEN!

The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

THE PASCHA OF THE LORD --SUNDAY OF THE bLIND MAN

Matins Gospel

John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.

Perhaps today’s story of the healing of the blind man is especially important for us, for our generation. When the Savior walked near the blind man who was known throughout Jerusalem without asking him anything, not even about his faith, he passed by him and healed him. The blind man became a man who sees; the Pharisees began interrogating him, asking him who worked this great benefaction for him—something they themselves would never have been able to do.

They took him to task, blaming the Savior for doing this great deed on God’s day—Saturday.

Whatever physical darkness is for the eyes, so is sin for the human soul. The spiritual darkness so darkens and blinds the eyes of the soul, that the sinner walks like the blind: he doesn't know where the path leads him; he doesn't see before him the torment of an eternal death in which he might fall; he doesn't distinguish vice from virtue, evil from good, truth from lies, true good fortune from evil fortune, and, thus, seeing he does not see and acts by touching like the blind.

Does he live in good fortune? He becomes violent, as an untrained and unrestrained horse, and does not see that with this good fortune God draws him to Himself as a father of a little child draws an apple.

GOYA
 
Sunday May 20th will be Graduation Sunday for all high school and college seniors. Seniors will be recognized and honored in the main church following Divine Liturgy.