4TH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH
(John 9: 1-41)
Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is
traditionally known as the Laetare Sunday. Laetare is the Latin word for
"Rejoice." It is derived from the entrance antiphon of today, which
was taken from Isaiah 66:10-11. It reads: "Rejoice Jerusalem and all who
love her. Be joyful, all you who were in mourning..."
Rejoicing in Lent? Rejoicing during the
commemoration of the sufferings of Christ? Rejoice in this trying time? God
says: "Rejoice." This is addressed to those who are mourning over
Jerusalem, those who received that invitation sent out on the Ash Wednesday,
those who hearkened to the song: "Oh come and mourn with me a
while...Jesus our Lord is crucified".
Indeed, we should rejoice in hope. We
should rejoice with an eye on the resurrection of Christ for those who suffered
with Him shall also reign with. We rejoice that through the observances of this
holy season, God continues to lighten our paths as we journey along with Him.
We rejoice in appreciation to God for the Amazing Grace that saved wretched
ones like us, we rejoice that we once were lost but now found, were blind like
the man in the Gospel of today but now can see.
But are we actually seeing or still blind
after the whole process of divine illumination? Are we also blind? Was the
question some pharisees directed to Jesus today in their effort to claim to
know and to see. Let us rather make it an introspective inquiry. Are we blind:
ARE WE BLIND TO APPEAR BEFORE THE LORD?
This is a time we come before the Lord the
way we are and tell ourselves the truth about ourselves, namely that we are
blind. That not even our blindness or the present hopeless situations should
stop us from seeking the Lord.( All you who seek a comfort sure in trouble and
distress whatever sorrows vexed the mind, all to that heart draw near... )The
blind man of today's Gospel did not fake sight. He never claimed to see. Even
after his healing, he proclaimed it severally that he was blind from birth. In
baptism, we were led out of darkness and blindness and transferred into the
kingdom of God's light. Are you still seeing? Are people still seeing the light
of Christ in you? Do you glory in your blindness? Don't! Remove that black
google, making you pretend that nothing is wrong with you. Jesus saw the
pitiable state of the blind man and gave him attention. May God give attention
to everyone still living in blindness but who is docile to his operations.
ARE WE BLIND TO GOD'S GLORY IN OUR LIVES
The reply of Jesus to the disciples who
asked him who was the cause of the man's blindness was interesting. He replied
them that it was neither the man's sin nor that of the parents that made him
blind, but that the work of God may be made manifest in his life. Are there
dark moments in your life or dark areas of your life or situations you're not
proud of, or situations of your life you are not happy about? Jesus is saying
that God's glory can be manifested through it. Don't be blind to see the hand
of God operating in your life. He will make a way where there seems to be none.
Yes, our eyes may be closed to His ways, but He will do what no human can do to
restore you.
ARE WE BLIND TO DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS AND
SIGNS?
When Jesus had spat on the ground and made
clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eye, He commanded him to go and wash
in Siloam pool. He followed that instruction and began to see. To see, we must
listen to God. We must follow where he leads as the shepherd of our soul. We
must allow ourselves to be directed by him. As we are asked to rejoice in hope
this day, let us not forget the Lenten instructions of going for confessions,
helping the poor, almsgiving, prayers.
ARE WE BLIND TO LOOK INWARD?
The Pharisees were the real blind people.
They were indeed the most miserable of the blind. Their blindness was so bad
that they never knew the seriousness of their situation. Instead of affirming
like the healed blind man of today that they have been blind from birth, they
rather queried: Are we also blind? They were not acquainted but condemned to
remain in their blindness. Never claim what you're not. Accept the truth about
your need for God's help.
ARE WE BLIND TO BEAR TESTIMONY?
The healed man became a missionary, an
evangelist, and a fearless preacher of the word of God. Even without
recognising Jesus, he became His emissary. And when eventually he came to
recognise Him, he believed in Him and worshipped Him. Don't close your eyes to
see reasons God give you daily to testify to His greatness in the world, in
your family, in your workplace, in the Church wherever you may find yourself.
May God bless His word in our heart
LET US PRAY
We thank You, Lord God, for the invitation
You have given us to be happy in You.
May we continue to savour the sweetness and
joy of Your presence, and may no darkness stop us from seeing Your goodness and
light in our lives. Sustain us as by Your grace, we continue to journey to the
Paschal feast through Christ our Lord. Amen
Happy Sunday, Rejoice in the Lord.
(Fourth Sunday of Lent)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
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