Greetings on this the Fourth Sunday of Lent
Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
Summary
The Church gives us a remarkable set of Gospel readings for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent. Each one reveals something about our relationship with God, that is: Man’s Relevance to God.
It is especially appropriate on Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, that we celebrate today. We Rejoice because God cares about Man.
There is a central meeting place in the predicament of man, our sinful failures, that is mirrored in the frustration of God – as expressed through the Prophets. The frustration is the disparity between God and the world. A disparity that is overcome in God, not in man. In our readings it is represented by the ‘three Thirsts‘.
The Lord, Our God, thirsts for us. While the direction with which the divine concern comes from is different (from on high), it is for the lifting up of his human family. It is also a relationship of reciprocity. We love God because God loves us. But the essential point – it is the Love that remains not the direction in which it begins.
3rd Sunday – last week – The Thirst for Water – Jesus is the Water of Life – The Samaritan Woman.
4th Sunday – this week – The Thirst for Light – Jesus is the Light of the World – The Man Born Blind.
5th Sunday – next week – The Thirst for Life – Jesus is the Life Giver/Life Restorer – The Raising of Lazarus.
Sidebar Note for Online version
- 1st Lent is The Temptation of Jesus.
- 2nd Lent is The Transfiguration of Jesus.
End Sidebar.
Our thirst for Lifegiving Water, Divine Light and Eternal Life have their origin in the Pathos of God – his heartfelt dilemma.
Look, the heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the LORD, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it. Yet only on [you] your ancestors did the LORD set his heart to love them. He chose you, their descendants, from [with] all the peoples, as it is today. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life (Deut 10:-14-15; John 8:12).
The Arc (the trajectory) of this pathos is revealed in stages we we go through these Sunday Lent readings.
From last week – The Samaritan Woman – a foreigner, a woman, who thirsts. Jesus too thirsts – he came to the well, tired from his journey and thirsty. His thirst is
for our thirst – I need for the life giving water.
The VILLAGE concludes: You are the Savior of the World.
From this week – The Man Born Blind – a Son of Jews, not born in sin, a begger at the temple gate. He wanted to see. Jesus wanted to be seen and see into the blind man. Do you believe in the Son of Man? Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
The MAN concludes: Son of Man. Jesus’s self-description, used to emphasize both his true humanity and his role as the divine, authority-bearing Messiah prophesied in Daniel.
For next week – The Raising of Lazarus – a NAMED person, a friend. The people were crying. Mary and Martha were crying. And Jesus wept.
MARTHA concludes: She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
As you can see the readings bring us through the pathway of Foreigner, a son Outside the Temple, to a close Friend with a real name.
Reflection
Our gospel portion these three Sundays takes us from outsiders to a broken, unnamed son to friends in need.
Jesus’ longing becomes our longing. His from abundance of grace and mercy. Ours from the need for grace and mercy.
Personal Reflection
Which do you feel you are?
- Outside of his love (the fear of emptiness)? Ask for the life giving waters.
- Blind son of the Church (the fear of darkness)? Ask for the sight to see Jesus again.
- Living a lifeless life or even near death? (the fear of final loss) Ask the Resurrection for help. Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
In our three gospel stories, Jesus takes the initiative.
- He speaks first.
- He seeks the person.
- He reveals himself.
Never forget that he does not forget you!
Even today, at the Eucharistic banquet we have the Summit of this giving – Life giving body and blood of our Lord. He knows we are hungry and thirsty for him. As he is for us.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031526.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry