This Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare which means Rejoice) marks the halfway point of this season in which we are to assess if we are living up to our promises of prayer, fasting and giving of alms to those in need. It also is a reminder to us that we are called by God to change our lives and to embrace a Baptism of discipleship no matter what our state of life. This is especially pertinent to the Elect and Candidates who will receive Sacraments at the Easter Vigil celebration on April 8th.
Our readings and Gospel this Sunday provide us with rich stories of how people say “yes” to God’s call by seeing the Light of God in the world and in their heart.
In our reading from the first Book of Samuel, the shepherd boy, David, is anointed by the reluctant prophet, priest and judge Samuel to succeed Saul as King of Israel because of Saul’s unfaithfulness to God. The Lord tells Samuel, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”
The second reading, Letter to the Ephesians, tells us that “everything that becomes visible is light” that “produces every kind of goodness, righteousness and truth.” Again, God looks into our hearts so we can “learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Finally, in St. John’s Gospel, we hear about a miraculous story about a blind beggar from birth who is cured by Jesus so the “works of God might be made visible through him.” The outspoken beggar who now sees comes to believe that Jesus is a prophet and the Son of Man who he will follow as a faithful disciple. His sight is focusing on avoiding sin and spreading the word about Jesus. His life is changed forever because he can now experience that which he has never seen with his eyes and his heart.
Do we truly see as God, the Ephesians or cured blind man? Is our heart the compass by which we love God, His creation and truth of all who God is and offers? If not, we may need to focus on our thoughts, words and actions as they pertain to our supposed discipleship. Our Baptism calls, challenges and commands us to be proactive in the ways of the Lord.
God gave each of us a heart, mind, soul and strength to spread the Gospel message with everyone we come in contact no matter what the consequences. Nothing in this world offers us a better life than God’s Kingdom in heaven. To prove our worthiness, we must be brave by avoiding the pitfalls of sin out of fear that we will lose everything we have in our current life. We must open our eyes to Jesus, our Light.
Let us take this week to check the spiritual vision of our heart rather than the appearance of sin. We need to be positive about our relationship with God by looking to follow His long-term ways rather than what might seem an immediate answer. Understanding and wisdom take time to focus on what is good, rather than expedient. It is then when God’s Light becomes the beacon for our direct journey to His goodness, righteousness and truth in life.
Reading 1: First Samuel 16: 1, 6-7, 10-13
Reading 2: Ephesians 5: 8-14
Gospel: John 9: 1-41
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