But the Jewish leaders did not believe the story about him, that he had been blind and had gained his sight,  until they had called the parents of the man who had gained his sight. They asked them: ‘Is this man your son, the one you say was born blind? So how does he see now?’ 

His parents answered: ‘We know that this man is our son and that he was born blind. How it is that he sees now, we do not know, or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him, he is of age, he will speak for himself.’

His parents said these things because they feared the Jewish leaders. For already the Jewish leaders had decided among themselves that anyone who confessed him as Messiah would be excluded from the synagogue.  For this reason his parents said ‘He is of age; ask him. ‘

Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing –
a grateful heart.
George Herbert

They took the man who was previously blind to the Pharisees. It was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.  The Pharisees began to ask him how he could see again. 

He said to them ‘He put mud on my eyes and I washed myself and I now see.’

Then some of the Pharisees said: ‘He is not from God – this man – because he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others said ‘How can a sinful man do such signs?’ And there was a division among them. So they asked the blind man again: ‘What do you say about him, on the basis that he opened your eyes?’ He said ‘He is a prophet.’

O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.

Gertrude the Great

Then neighbours, and the people who had seen him before when he was a beggar, said ‘ This is not the man who used to sit and beg, is it?’  Some said ‘This man is him!’ and others said ‘No, it’s someone like him.’ The man said ‘It’s me!’

So they said to him ‘How have your eyes been opened?’ 

He replied ‘The man, called Jesus, made mud, and spread it on my eyes. He said to me “Get up and go to Siloam and wash.” When I had gone and washed, I could see.’ 

And they said to him ‘Where is that man?’ He said ‘I don’t know.’

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius

So the Jewish leaders said ‘Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets too, yet you say “If someone keeps my teaching, they will never ever experience death.” Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who was mortal?’ What is more the prophets died. Who are you making yourself out to be?’  

Jesus answered: ‘If I glorify myself, my glory amounts to nothing. It is my Father who is the one who glorifies me – about  whom you say  “He is our God”. And yet you do not know him. 

‘If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like yourselves. But I know him and keep his word. Abraham, your father was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing my day, and he saw it and rejoiced.’

Then the Jewish leaders said to him ‘You are not yet 50, and you have seen Abraham, have you?’

Jesus said to them: ‘Truly, truly I say to you before Abraham was born, I am.’

So they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself and left the temple.

Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.

Thomas More (c.1478-1535

The Jewish leaders responded: ‘Don’t we rightly say that you are a Samaritan and you are possessed by a demon? 

Jesus answered: ‘I am not possessed by a demon, but I honour my Father; you treat me shamefully. I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks it and judges. 

Truly, truly I say to you if someone  keeps my teaching, they will never ever see death.’

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen

So Jesus spoke to those Judeans who had believed in him: ‘If you stay in my word, truly you show that you are my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 

And they said to him :’We are descendants of Abraham, and we have never been enslaved to anyone. “How then do you say that we will become free?”’

Jesus answered them: ‘Truly, truly I say to you that everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. But the slave does not stay in the household for life, rather the son stays forever. So if  the Son frees you, you will really be set free.  

I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. But you seek to kill me, because my word finds no room in you. ‘

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius