4th Sunday of Lent
In reality he cannot see at all.....
Readings for 4th Sunday of Lent:
Reading 1 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Psalm Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Reading 2 Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel John 9:1-41
REFLECTIONS:… from Father Daniel
The Christians of the first centuries used to call those who received Baptism during the Easter Vigil the “enlightened”. The theme of light is found in the three readings of today. The first reading tells us that whoever has not received the light judges things through human eyes; in reality he cannot see at all. The Gospel tells us how to reach the light. The second reading completes this theme by telling us what we should do to defeat darkness.
St. John’s Gospel in its entirety is profoundly spiritual and beautifully written. St. John uses this story or incident to show how we are able to grow in our knowledge about Christ. First, the blind man saw Christ simply as a man (the man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes). Then he saw Jesus as a prophet. Then later he acknowledged Jesus to be a man from God. Finally, he professes that Jesus is the Son of Man. The whole story of the man born blind could be acted out dramatically whereby the one who was blind began to see, not just through his eyes but with faith in his heart. Those who could see were really ones who were blind chose to remain blind by their self-righteousness and arrogance. We all have power within us to see Jesus in faith if we choose or to remain blind.
On March 6, 2014, Vatican medical experts reported that there is no natural explanation for the survival of a child delivered stillborn, whose heart did not start beating until 61 minutes after his birth, a miracle credited to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Do you believe in God’s miracle, even in your own life? A high school religious teacher asked her students :”What is it that you desire most in life?” One student answered, “ Somebody I can believe.” Let us pray for a deeper faith and trust in God and in Jesus Christ.
