1 Sam 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 / Ephesians 5:8-14 / John 9:1-41
A basic computer system would be made up of a central processing unit or CPU, a keyboard, a mouse and a monitor.
For a laptop, all that would be compacted into one unit.
No one part is more important than the other.
The CPU processes all the data so it would need the keyboard and the mouse for input and navigation.
The monitor is needed to see what is going on in the system.
Computers are so much a part of our lives that we might feel a bit lost without them.
Although every part of the computer system is important, there is one part there we interact with often, and that is the monitor, or, the computer screen.
The monitor or screen tells us what is happening in the computer and with the computer.
Oh, by the way, studies have shown that Singaporean adults have high screen usage, often exceeding 10-12 hours, including work and leisure time.
That is really a lot of time looking at screens.
And a blank screen, or blue screen, would mean trouble, and sometimes big trouble.
For the blind man in today’s gospel, his world was a blank and black screen.
He can hear and feel what is happening, but he can’t see faces and expressions, or body language, or silent gestures.
So, he didn’t know who was this Jesus who opened his eyes and enabled him to see.
When he was not able to see, there was also nothing much for him to say.
But now that he could see, he also began to say what he thinks and what he sees.
When questioned by the Pharisees, the man declared that Jesus is a prophet.
When pestered by the Pharisees to repeat the whole account, he even dared to ask them if they too wanted to be disciples of Jesus.
In the gospel account, Jesus declared that He is the light of the world.
He is the light that lights up the lives of people.
When lives are lighted up, then thoughts are also revealed.
In the gospel, the light of Christ shines on the man born blind and opened his eyes.
And then, the light of Christ, through that man, shone onto others, revealing their inmost thoughts.
The thoughts of the man's parents were revealed, that although they knew the truth, they were afraid of the Pharisees.
The thoughts of the Pharisees were also revealed, for as much as they tried to deny the truth, they were also confused by their own denial.
So, the light of Christ shines on the man born blind and opened his eyes.
And through him, the light of Christ shone on others, and revealed their thoughts.
The light of Christ shines on us to purify our thoughts and to see the truth.
The light of Christ also shines through us, and it also reveals ourselves to others.
It is like now, everyone can see our computer and handphone screens, and they know what we are thinking and what we are doing.
But we don't like to share our screens.
When people come close, we will close the laptop or handphone screen.
We would even paste screen covers or download screen shields so that others can't see the content on our screens.
But with the light of Christ shining on us and through us, we would not be afraid of what others see in our laptop or handphone screens.
In other words, we will not be afraid of what others will see in our lives, as we have nothing to hide.
With minds and hearts purified by God’s light and love, we will also do what the man whose eyes were opened did.
He declared Jesus to be the Saviour.
His words of truth revealed the thoughts of others.
Light does not argue with darkness. It just shines silently, and scatters the darkness.
May the light of Christ shine on us and through us.
By the light of our lives, may we bring truth, love and joy to the world.