Fourth Sunday of Lent – LAETARE SUNDAY – Year A – March 26, 2017

Roman Rite

1Sm 16,1B 6-7 10-13A; Ps 23; Eph5.8 to 14; Jn 9, 1-41

Ambrosian Rite

Ex 34.27 to 35.1; Ps 35; 2 Cor 3.7 to 18; Jn 9, 1-38b

Sunday of the Blind Man

1) Light for the eyes of the soul

While last Sunday, through the Gospel of the Samaritan woman, Jesus promised also to us the gift of living water (Jn 4, 10.11), this fourth Sunday of Lent, called “Laetare” (= Rejoice) Sunday, presents Christ “light of world” who heals a” born blind man”(Jn 9, 1-41).

Nigerian church leader says unless Catholics and Muslims start talking “there will be no one left to worship God”.

One of the African church’s most prominent figures has called for Catholics to embark on a dialogue with Muslims as a way of preventing religious violence.

Nigerian Cardinal John Onaiyekan has witnessed militant Islamic group, Boko Haram, wreak havoc in his homeland by carrying out bombings, assassinations and abductions, while the number of Muslims in the country is now greater than across the Middle East.

“So when is the Catholic Church finally going to update all its teachings on sexuality?”

That was the challenging question posed to me in the aisle on a flight home recently. The man had watched a film series on TV that I had been a part of, so when he saw me while boarding the plane, he stopped to ask if we could talk.

“I love the show,” he said. “I’m learning so much, and I’m not even Catholic! I’m a Methodist. I had some questions about the Catholic faith. When we get up in the air, could we talk?”

PRAY:
"If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, I would feed them with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them." (Psalm 81:17)

READING: Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the scribes who had listened to them debating appreciated that Jesus had given a good answer and put a further question to him, 'Which is the first of all the commandments?'

29 Jesus replied, 'This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one, only Lord,

Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 26, 2017, Year A

What did the man born blind do once he could see? He went back. Where? We don’t know. Why? Well, where else? John tells us nothing about his reaction to his new situation. He is totally unlike the lame man healed in Acts 3:8, “walking and jumping and praising God.” He was not even looking for Jesus, as far as we can tell.

Interview with Cardinal Parolin on the eve of the Treaties of Rome’s celebration: “Do not expect Christians to say what to do, but to show through their lives the way to follow.

Saint Joseph, a "good and upright man," heard God’s wishes by listening to his dreams. Common advice would have told him to divorce Mary, as he planned to do, but he was willing to do what was disapproved of by other people because he trusted God’s plan more than his own. When practicality would have said, "Stay in Bethlehem; Egypt is no place for a poor carpenter and his family," he also declined to rely on his own will, and thereby saved the life of Mary’s infant Son.

St. Joseph, Pray that we might be faithful to God's will in all things as you were.

On the 4th Sunday of Lent, we read in John’s Gospel about Christ healing a man blind from birth. We identify with the man who came to see and believe in Jesus as the Son of God. The Lord has anointed our eyes with His own divine hands and washed them with the waters of our baptism. Jesus used mud made with his own saliva, and told the man to wash in the waters of Siloam. Jesus did this because it was the Sabbath, the day, when it was strictly forbidden to make mud, spit, and wash. By breaking these Jewish ritual laws, Jesus proved that He is indeed the Lord of the Sabbath.

This is the committing title of a conference to be held on March 24-26 at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, promoted by the Centre for Dialogue with people of the Focolare that have no religious affiliation.

“The Word of God is a light for our path. We must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. This is how moral conscience is formed.” (CCC 1802)

Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

As the prophet Jonah came to realize, there are many persons who “don't know their right hand from their left.” (John 4:11)