March 26, 2017 — Fourth Sunday of Lent
1 SM 16: 1B, 6-7-, 10-13A; PS 23: 1-6; EPH 5: 8-14; JN 9: 1-41
In the entire Bible from Genesis in the Old Testament through the Gospel of John, the incident reported in John 9, the Gospel Reading on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, the restoration of sight to the blind man is the only instance of a blind person since birth being healed. No other prophet or apostle or priest ever performed such a miracle.
Isaiah the prophet had predicted “The eyes of blind will be opened” (Isaiah 35:5) in his prophecies of the Messiah. Of course, we need to understand that the “eyes of the blind will be opened” has a double meaning. Yes, the blind man can see, but he can also understand and comprehend what Jesus’ saving grace means.
This time during Lent is a time for us to open our eyes as well. We need to see and to embrace the fact that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. To see we need light. In the Second Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Paul says, “Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”
Is that not what our whole purpose in Lent is? To seek the light; to find an understanding of the Lord’s place in our lives; to open our eyes; and to become Disciples of the Lord? We often make reference to the fact that we are called to be disciples. What does that mean? According to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, it meant, “Do not keep Christ to yourselves. Share with others the joy of your faith. The world needs the witness of your faith; it surely needs God.”
