But Our Lord Jesus Christ can cure that spiritual blindness also – however hopeless the situation may seem – so long as there is the desire within the heart for him to do so. Our Lord always requires our co-operation. Thus he did not heal the blind man immediately but told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. It was not until he had done so that he was able to see.

But here, as so often, Our Lord offers us more than we really want. He will not rest until our spiritual blindness is completely cured, until we have a sharply defined clarity of vision, whereas we often prefer to be given short-sight instead.

When the light of Christ streams into the soul, it lights up everything in it, and if our spiritual perception is keen we shall perforce see all the unlovely things in our character almost as clearly as he does.

But do we always want this? It is very nice to have Our Lord as our Friend and Guardian, to know that he is always at hand to turn to in trouble or in need. That is a great comfort and we would not be without it: but we are not nearly so ready to accept him as the high and holy One, or to think realistically about his flaming, dazzling sanctity in comparison with which the true state of our souls becomes plain indeed.

No, we turn to him for comfort, but for comparison we prefer Mr A and Mrs B so that we can assure ourselves that we are as good as the one and perhaps better than the other.

A flock of sheep may look white and clean while grazing together in the fields, but that appearance is an illusion. When seen against a background of freshly fallen snow, they are suddenly revealed as soiled and grubby.