Gleanings from Orthodox Christian Authors and the Holy Fathers

sunday_of_the_blind_man

5 Entries

Like a great burden and an onerous and earthen load, thus he who had been blind from birth seemed to those in the world as he walked by while striking his feet against stones. Instead of sight he was endowed with a staff; thus he fled for refuge unto the Light-bestower. And He enabled him to see light and to behold his Creator with his own eyes. Lo, he laid eyes on Him Who fashioned and created our human nature in His image and His likeness. From earth He made us then, but now from spittle mixed with dust He enlighten and in His love for man doth grant him to see the sun. Aposticha of the Praises of Matins of Monday of the Blind Man. The Pentecostarion

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Like a great burden and an onerous and earthen load, thus he who had been blind from birth seemed to those in the world as he walked by while striking his feet against stones. Instead of sight he was endowed with a staff; thus he fled for refuge unto the Light-bestower. And He enabled him to see light and to behold his Creator with his own eyes. Lo, he laid eyes on Him Who fashioned and created our human nature in His image and His likeness. From earth He made us then, but now from spittle mixed with dust He enlighteneth this man's blind eyes and in His love for man doth grant him to see the sun.

Aposticha of the Praises of Matins of Monday of the Blind Man. ThePentecostarion

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Passing by on the way, O Lord, Thou didst find a man who was blind from his birth. And the disciples, in astonishment, asked Thee and said: Teacher, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? And Thou, O my Saviour, didst cry unto them: Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him that sent Me, which none else can work. And when Thou hadst said this, Thou didst spit upon the ground and make clay, and didst anoint his eyes, saying unto him: Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. And he washed and was made whole and cried unto Thee: Lord, I believe; and he worshipped Thee. Wherefore, we also cry out: Have mercy on us. Doxasticon (Glory) of Stichera of Vespers, Pentecostarion

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The body is a slave, the soul a sovereign, and therefore it is due to Divine mercy when the body is worn out by illness: for thereby the passions are weakened, and a man comes to himself; indeed, bodily illness itself is sometimes caused by the passions. St. Seraphim of Sarov, Spiritual Instructions

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Trials are sent to some so as to take away past sins, to others so as to eradicate sins now being committed, and to yet others so as to forestall sins which may be committed in the future. These are distinct from the trials that arise in order to test men in the way Job was tested. St. Maximos the Confessor (Second Century on Love no. 45)

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