The Power of the Siloam Washing

They become mirrors to one another. Therefore, the eye is worthy of wonder among the created things. For this also interprets God to me, accurately perceiving all of creation and, by pointing out the artisan through the working of things, it interprets the invisible to the soul from the visible; through this I have knowledge of the sun and the order of the heavens, and I have studied the beauty of the stars and the substance and nature of the earth, the difference of seeds and the variety of plants and the diverse coloring of hues, the depth of darkness and the shining of light, and all simply as much as God has created.

If an eye had not existed, creation would have been without witness, with no one seeing the wisdom and power of God being preserved within it. Because of this, therefore, this wonderful arrangement of the eyes, the eyes were also created by design, so that we might cast off the lowly ideas approaching us from the flesh concerning the Only-begotten, by the great work of things coming to be, casting out from the soul every lowly and vulgar conceit; let us know, however, that the blessed light and beauty of the divinity received an earthen vessel to serve us, like lamps, the shining light.

The Lord performs the healing himself, and he does not use word alone for the operation, having supported all through his command for the adornment; he healed the paralytic with two words; but he also heals the blindness now with mouth and hands and much other foresight, so that he might instill firm faith through things into the unbelieving.

He stoops upon the ground and works a clot with saliva, using the earth for this purpose toward the healing, so that he might show how from that clay, whence in the beginning the living creature was formed in its entirety, a complete part is being made from the remainder. With saliva he takes this up and joins together what was scattered and unattached, so that he might show us clearly that by the power of his mouth the Word set all things in order. For by the word the heavens were established (Ps 33:5), and by the spirit of his mouth all their power (Job 33:4).

Perhaps also because of this he heals by stooping, so that those about to insult a little later with spittle might be subdued by fear; and yet the insolence of the madmen did not cease, but he was spat upon much by the...

Such things are achieved through a fall. In this first act, the creative power is shown, and by the command to wash in the pool of Siloam, the salvation through water is demonstrated to us, which the one sent (Siloam) granted to all. For then we see well when we are cleansed by the mystical water; then the light of grace surrounds us, when the power of baptism washes away the stain of sins and the spots. And all who obey the command of Siloam see the spiritual light, which enlightens every man coming into the world. Oh, the wonder and the great energy!

The man, blind a moment ago, went out from the pool with his face adorned by the addition to his eyes, seeing accurately toward the solar ray. The matter astonished the neighbors and the acquaintances. The new manner of the healing disturbed his life; the man was surrounded by the city, seeing that the work was becoming known by all, new and paradoxical, by Jesus born in Bethlehem, that little infant who was laid in the manger among the rushes. For these are the things which caused the Jews to disbelieve in the divinity.

Not then, O foolish and hard-hearted ones, apply your reasoning to the men of the age. Beginning from Adam, investigate all the following, if you find what has happened now and has been done upon others, having a life that is a model of such a healing; and again, at the dragging away of my Lord, you bring forward the child of the carpenter, whose brothers you know, whose house you know. Count all the lowly things, contend, and pour out much of our dishonor. But if neither man has done anything of this kind, nor has life had such a story, having recognized your own ignorance, look back toward the truth. Wash also yourselves in the Siloam, so that you do not perish in blindness.

But nothing was as it should be regarding them. Neither a word instructed, nor a deed taught, nor the energy of wonders nourished; but on the contrary, through innate ignorance, they attempted in myriad ways to obscure and to drag away; and malice turned back upon them to the contrary. For as much as they disbelieved, and asking...