Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church

Pastor's Homily March 21st

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Fourth Sunday of Lent

Sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus,

Today is the Fourth Sunday in Lent. Traditionally, this day is known as Laetare Sunday, from the Latin word for the command"rejoice". The antiphon and the readings express the Church's joy in anticipation of Jesus' Resurrection. But we know that instead of rejoicing there is a lot of fear and anxiety all around us due to COVID-19. The Lord who conquered every kind of fear, sin and death may strengthen us to be calm and serene to face this pandemic. Allow me to share a few thoughts on today's scripture readings.

In the first reading, taken from the First Book of Samuel, there is rejoicing at the anointing of David as the second king of Israel. Today's passage speaks about Samuel's journey to find the Lord's chosen one. Samuel had his own ideas about whom God would choose. But God chose the most unlikely candidate, namely, David, the shepherd boy, the youngest son of Jesse. God told Samuel: "Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart." This illustrates how blind we are in our judgments and how much we need God's help to think and do as God does.

Here is an interesting story. Michael Yaconeli was a Christian writer. In his book "God's Annoying Love for Imperfect People", he tells the story of a man recently converted to Jesus and how an unbelieving friend sought to "see" why. "So you have been converted to Christ?" "Yes." "Then you must know a great deal about Him. Tell me, what country he was born in?" "I don't know." "What was his age when he died?" "I don't know." "How many sermons did he preach?" "I don't know." "You certainly know very little for a man who claims to be converted to Christ." "You are right. I am ashamed at how little I know about him. But this much I know: Three years ago I was a drunkard. I was in debt. My family was falling to pieces; they dreaded the sight of me. But now I have given up drinking. We are out of debt. Ours is a happy home. My children eagerly await my return home each evening. More than everything, I have Peace in my heart! All this Christ has done for me. This much I know of Christ." Friends, does it not sound like the answers given by the blind man healed by Jesus in today's gospel? For he said, "One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see."

Just like last Sunday's Gospel in which the woman at the well gradually came to see that Jesus is in fact the Messiah, the man born blind in today's gospel goes from declaring Jesus to be a prophet to eventually worshipping Him in the midst of the doubting crowds.

This miracle of Jesus giving sight to the blind teaches us the need of opening the eyes of our mind by Faith, and warns us that those who assume they see the truth are often blind, while those who acknowledge their blindness are given clear vision. In this episode, the most unlikely person, namely the beggar born blind, receives the light of Faith in Jesus, while the religion-oriented, law-educated Pharisees remain spiritually blind. To live as a Christian is to see, to have clear vision about God, about ourselves and about others. Our Lenten prayers and sacrifices should serve to heal our spiritual blindness so that we can look at others, see them as children of God and love them as our own brothers and sisters saved by the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

For the blind man, the healing was a moment of enlightenment. Suddenly, out of the darkness of his heart and his life, there comes a bright and shining light that takes him out of his sorrow and pain and lifts him up so that he can walk freely and become a full person and love and care and reach out.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says of Baptism, This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding... Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true light that enlightens every man," the person baptized has been "enlightened", he becomes a "son of light", indeed, he becomes "light" himself. (CCC1216).

What is the sign that we are enlightened people? In the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Ephesians of their new responsibility, "to live as children of the light, producing every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth."

Let us pray:
"Lord Jesus, you are the true light that enlightens the world. In this unprecedented time we ask you to be with us. Remove our fear. Enlighten us. Instill in us hope, peace and consolation. Bring an end to the spread of this very harmful virus. Let there be Peace all over. Comfort the dying. Heal the sick. Amen

Fr. Varghese Ethappiri

Reading 1: First Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
Reading 2: Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel: John 9:1-41

https://catholicreadings.org/fourth-sunday-of-lent-year-a/

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Our Lady of Consolation Parish 204 Palm Avenue, Riviera, TX 78379 Office: 361-297-5255 Email: ourlady@rivnet.com Website Manager: Barbara Grayson