Sunday, March 22, 2020

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

“Sin is a blindness of the spirit, which prevents us from what is most important, from fixing our gaze on the love that gives life. This blindness leads us little by little to dwell on what is superficial, until we are indifferent to others and that what is good.”
- Pope Francis

Unfortunately, our world has become too used to sin to the extent that we glorify and justify our evil actions and thoughts. We live in a world of blindness where we have lost not only our purpose but also our paths and destination. There are confusion and deceit all over. We can't even differentiate between what is real from that which is fake. Things have been mixed up. 

We determine situations based on our own judgments and perceptions (ideas) without resorting to the mind of God. To guard against this spiritual and moral blindness it is only God who can give us a proper vision in body and soul when we obey His instructions. I think it is needful especially in this COVID-19 pandemic.

In our first reading when God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to choose from among his sons one who would be the second King of Israel, he failed with the number of times he decided because he was blinded by his own judgment and perceptions (ideas). But God chose the unlikely candidate, David, the shepherd boy and the youngest son amongst his brothers. The message is, ”Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Dear ones in Christ, in life, to make the right decisions and choices, relying on our own judgments and ideas is insufficient (they are deceitful), but if we would resort to the vision and the mind of God (ever sure and does not fail) we will never regret it.
 
It is this vision of God which is described in the second reading as the light. The blindness of our sins makes us darkness but whenever we succumb to the mind and vision of God we become the children of the light. This makes us produce every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. We learn by doing what is pleasing to God but not what is pleasing to our parochial interest.

Our Gospel reading gives us the paradox of blindness. Jesus and His Apostles went to Jerusalem to partake in the feast of Tabernacles and he met a blind man who asked for help. Jesus acting out of His divine kindness and mercy gave him a sight to prove that “He is the light of the world.” (John 8:12)

He gave the blind man not only a bodily sight but also the sight of Faith, that is why the healed man finally said, “I do believe, Lord.” And he worshiped Him. This means we need the grace and revelation of God to progress in our spiritual sight. 

Our honest and humble approach to the sacrament of reconciliation can definitely take away our blindness for us to have the right sight in life. In this season of grace (Lent) grab every chance to ”see.” The real beauty of life is your sight. Jesus can clean your dirty lenses for you... run to Him! Your life will never be the same.

Keep your social distances... PRAY... Keep the Faith.

Let’s meet on Facebook live.

Fr. Emmanuel

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