The Pharisees call the previously blind man’s parents as witnesses. The parents respond with the ancient art of self-preservation: “Ask him. He is of age.”
The religious leaders want the man to say what they need him to say. They want him to fit the miracle into their pre-approved categories. “Give glory to God,” they say, which in
this moment seems to mean, “Agree with us.”
But all that the man can offer is a personal testimony.
He does not have a theology degree. He does not have the perfect words. He simply refuses to lie about his experience of grace.
Notice how his understanding grows as he speaks. At first, Jesus is “the man called
Jesus.” Then Jesus becomes “a prophet.” Then the man dares to say, “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
Sometimes (more often than not) faith grows by walking and talking, not by winning arguments.
St Ignatius encouraged people to pay attention to experience. Where did you find life? Where did you lose it? The healed man in this story is doing exactly that.
He is narrating what happened, and in the telling, his sight deepens.
Today, you do not need to have all the answers. You only need the courage to be honest and alert to your experiences of God.
Where have you experienced God’s goodness in a way you cannot fully explain? Who might need your simple, honest story of grace this week?
