The Messiah, it was predicted, would give sight to the blind (Isaiah 29:18; 35:5; 42:7). This is the only miracle recorded in the gospels where the sufferer was said to have been afflicted from birth. But, Jesus' friends wanted to know, why was this man born blind? Read: John 9:1-12. Many rabbis taught, 'There is no death without sin, and there is no suffering without iniquity.' Wherever there was suffering, someone had sinned. Some believed you could sin in the womb, or, your soul having existed beforehand, you were contaminated with sin at conception. (The Jews probably borrowed the idea of the pre-existence of the soul from Plato and the Greeks). The Old Testament does teach that the consequences of parents' sin are passed on to children (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 109:14). But Jesus doesn't get into a theological discussion: this man's blindness is an opportunity for a miracle, to show God's power at work in the man's life, thus to prove Jesus the Messiah's deity and compassion.

Meditate: Some reading these words may be blind, or visually impaired. Others may have another form of disability. How can a 'work of God' be experienced in each of our lives? If I am not physically disabled, what other 'handicap' might prevent God working powerfully in my life?

In our prayer, let us imagine we are at the side of the road, and Jesus is passing by. Jesus wants to perform a miracle, and do a 'work of God' in and through us. Let us open up ourselves to him, and let him do it! Amen.