As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” (John 9:1-12)

Last Sunday’s Gospel lesson was spot on — the story of a man born blind, and whose sight was restored after Jesus put mud on his eye.

Yesterday I underwent a vitrectomy, in which my retina specialist “took the mud out” — the debris in my eye left by an infection. I saw my surgeon this morning and am one day post-op—the bandages have been taken off, but it will take some time for my vision to be restored. I’m not supposed to pick up anything weighing more than 5 pounds — I have a feeling my purse doesn’t qualify! In the meantime, I’m supposed to keep my eye dry and not wash my hair with water for a week! Luckily I’ll be able to resume driving, also in a week. I was glad they removed the eye shield this morning at the doctor’s office, but unfortunately I’ll have to keep using it at night while sleeping.

My good friend, Joan Ishibashi, is here spoiling me with her Japanese cooking. Yesterday morning we did a grocery run at Foodland Ala Moana, where she was shocked at the high prices we pay for groceries. However, we found thinly-sliced pork for $2.58. I’m wondering whether it was mismarked?