WORDS FROM FATHER YOHANES: Spittle & Divine Transformation

By Father Yohanes Akoit

One impression someone might have after reading the passage

of the man born blind (John 9:1–41) is that it feels unhygienic

or even disgusting. This reaction is understandable when we

look at the method Jesus used to cure the blind man. Jesus spat

on the ground, made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay

on the man’s eyes. Naturally, this creates an association with

something unpleasant. Just imagine someone spitting directly

or indirectly on our body. It is difficult to accept, and not easy

to see any positive meaning behind such an action. Even when

we are driving and see someone spit on the road, it can create a

bad or disgusting feeling in us. Our spontaneous reaction is to

look away or pretend we did not see it and continue our

journey.

Based on this hygienic and moral perspective, spitting in an

improper place is considered negative. Yet in the Gospel

passage, Jesus uses something we consider negative and

transforms it into a tool for experiencing God’s mercy. He

shapes what is unformed, and He transforms what is unpleasant

into something good for others. This is the key idea we need to

underline when reading this story: Jesus healed the sick using

His spittle. Indirectly, Jesus is teaching His disciples that they

must become a blessing for one another. Their calling is a call

to transform what is unclean within themselves and use it as an

invitation for others to transform their own limitations.

Jesus had already shown this example by touching a leper with

His hand and by washing the feet of His apostles. He proved it

through His actions. He touched the unclean parts of their

bodies without wearing gloves or applying hand sanitizer. He

touched what was unclean directly. He did it spontaneously,

but with love. He transformed what was considered

unhygienic or disgusting into something lovable and dignified.

Therefore, the act of Jesus using spittle to heal the sick

becomes an invitation to self‐transformation and an expression

of love. Jesus loves His disciples and expresses that love

through the symbol of spittle. Think of what we instinctively

do when our finger gets cut: we put it in our mouth to stop the

bleeding. It may be unclean or unpleasant, but we do it

because we care for our body. The same thing happens with

mothers caring for their small children. If a child’s finger is

cut, the mother’s first instinct, especially in earlier times, is to

put the child’s finger in her mouth to stop the bleeding. Some

of us may still remember this from our own childhood. Spittle

becomes an act of love. Even animals do the same to express

care for their bodies and for others. A cat cleans its body with

its tongue and saliva. A dog licks its wounds to help them

heal.

The method Jesus used to heal the blind man needs to be

understood in this context. Jesus loves His disciples and

expresses that love according to the wisdom of His time. He is

not humiliating or abusing the sick; He is loving and caring for

them. Through this action, Jesus invites His disciples to do the

same: to transform the unclean areas of their lives and express

love toward others. By doing so, the disciples become

messengers of God’s love.

This same invitation is addressed to us today. We are called to

transform our limitations and weaknesses. Let us call to mind

the negative areas of our lives and ask Jesus to help us

transform them.

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic

churches in Kentucky.