“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

The Jews of Jesus’ time asked this question because of many realities:

• First, they believed that many sicknesses come from sinfulness. Hence, Jesus would always say, “Your sins are forgiven” before he heals. True enough even to this day, science and medicine have proven that many of our sicknesses come from negative emotions like anger, unforgiveness, and resentment.
• Second, the Jews believed that God blesses families for generations: The bible reminds us that when we honor our father and mother, God blesses the children. 
• Third, the Jews also believed that God curses families for generations. When a family indulges in idolatry, even the next generation will suffer. 

The response of Christ: “Neither he or his parents sinned”. In other words, this is a case that is not due to sinfulness or generational curses, but rather that it is a reality of life. There are events in our lives that can be difficult, hard to bear, and seemingly not fair. Yet, the good news of the Gospel – trust God because there is a plan in everything – and everything happens for a reason and a purpose.

That is why in our own lives, many things happen that we want fully to know the answer: Why am I sick? Why this financial difficulty? Why this betrayal? Why did this plan not work out? Why does this pain seem to have no solution? Why is God not answering my prayer?

Whatever difficulties in life we have the Gospel to remind us:

1. With God nothing is impossible. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that God is greater than any sickness and that God is greater than death. 
2. With God, his time is different from our time. For us, we all want our prayers answered immediately. But with God, even if it is a Sabbath, he will heal because God has a perfect plan and time.
3. With God, there is no sin he will not forgive. During the time of Jesus, the Jews believed that sickness was due to sinfulness, and when one is healed, hence the sins are forgiven. In other words God not only cures the body, he too heals the soul.

We pray for everyone who is undergoing difficulty and fighting a battle. Never ever lose hope. May we continue to be heroes of society by continuing to carry our crosses, serve others, and put others first.