The vision
The Man Blind from his Birth.
(The Gospel History, Section 80)
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him? Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
The vision
(The Saviour of the World, Vol V Book IV Poem LVI)
He went with singing heart and fond desire
To see the face had blessed him in the dark;
To find a vent for all that glowing fire
Of love at his heart. He watched; he listened; hark,
Was that His voice? By sight he could not mark
The Man in the crowd who, speaking, bade him see:
But as he went he sang like any lark,
So good it was a seeing man to be;
So good to walk the world in great expectancy.
But when true love awakes in any heart,
Another heart, attending, feels the glow:
None seeking Christ can have a lonely part;
To seek who seeks Him, quick the Lord doth go,—
The Lord of love; full surely doth He know
When one desires Him as the water-brook,
The hunted stag solicits. As waters flow
Together, meeting in a shady nook,
The erst-blind man and Christ joined in a single look,—
The two made one! Christ met him on his quest
Whom He had gone to seek; and asked him straight
That question which to answer is the hest
Laid on each son of man; nor bid him wait
For help should come to ease his poor estate,—
But,—“Dost thou on the Son of God believe?”
Awed by demand momentous, intimate,
But hungering due knowledge to receive,—
“Who is he, Lord?” he answered instant, to relieve
The intolerable ecstasy in him:
“Thou seest Him,” said Christ, “and He it is
That speaks with thee:” whereat his eyes grew dim
With sudden swelling of tears of holy bliss;—
“Lord, I believe!” he cried, who had thought to miss
The common sights of life, or bird, or tree,
When, lo, his eyes were opened, and to this—
The Vision of his Saviour! Thus thought he
Communing with his thankful heart all secretly.
St. John ix. 35–38.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Stitcher | RSS