Fourth Sunday in Lent

The Rev. Phil Brochard The sermon connects a story from All Souls about recognizing a formerly homeless man who had transformed his life with the Gospel story of the man born blind in John 9. After gaining sight, the healed man is no longer recognized by his neighbors because they had always defined him by his blindness. The passage highlights a deeper theme of spiritual perception: while the healed man gradually perceives who Jesus is, those around him refuse to see the truth. Using the concept of “difficult knowledge,” the sermon explores how people often resist truths that challenge established beliefs or systems. Such resistance can appear as rejection, certainty from those in power, scapegoating, or avoidance. The healed man models a different response—listening, curiosity, and openness to transformation. When the man is expelled from the synagogue for acknowledging Jesus, Christ seeks him out and finds him. The sermon concludes that difficult truths may lead to conflict or exclusion, but they ultimately set people free, and Christ accompanies those who are cast out for seeing what others cannot.