A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 9:1-41
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
The Lord said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
What can I do with you, Ephraim?/ What can I do with you, Judah?/ Your piety is like a morning cloud,/ like the dew that early passes away./ For this reason I smote them through the prophets,/ I slew them by the words of my mouth;/ For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,/ and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.
What can I do with you, Ephraim?/ What can I do with you, Judah?/ Your piety is like a morning cloud,/ like the dew that early passes away./ For this reason I smote them through the prophets,/ I slew them by the words of my mouth;/ For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,/ and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
I will heal their defection, says the Lord,/ I will love them freely;/ for my wrath is turned away from them./ I will be like the dew for Israel:/ he shall blossom like the lily;/ He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,/ and put forth his shoots./ His splendor shall be like the olive tree/ and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar./ Again they shall dwell in his shade/ and raise grain;/ They shall blossom like the vine,/ and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
