Today, the pharisees’ narrow dogmatism (“We are disciples of Moses”) is confronted with the experiential truth, the manifest reality, of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The blind man has encountered the Light of the world and it has changed him. All those around him recognize that, though he was born blind, now he can see. Moreover, he is willing to testify of him (“If this Man were not from God…”) and believe in him (“Lord, I believe!”). Likewise, Saint Theophan the Recluse reminds us that, if we study and read good things, filling our thoughts with faith in Christ’s Resurrection, and diligently practice the commandments of God—for light knows no fellowship with darkness, nor Christ with Belial—we can experience the resurrection even in this life. For Christ, the Light of the world who gave sight to the blind, is also the Resurrection who grants eternal life to those who believe and follow. We do not have to wait for the coming age to experience resurrection; through repentance, humble diligence, and grace, we can access this experience, this encounter with Christ who is our Life, even now.
Home / Work of the Church / Reflections in Christ / Metropolitan Tikhon /