The Fourth Sunday of Lent

Jewish tradition at the time of Jesus held that God used his spit to mix with the dust of the earth in order to create Adam.  Knowing that gives added meaning to the gospel story of the man born blind, as Jesus uses spit and dirt to cover the man’s eyes and then has him wash in the waters of Siloam.  Jesus is making him into a new creation with spit and dirt and then sends him to be cleansed with water, similar to the waters of baptism.

When our Lenten journey is over in a few short weeks, we will renew our baptismal promises and be sprinkled with the waters of baptism.  This Easter Sunday ritual reminds us that baptism is only the beginning of our life in Christ and needs to be lived out one day at a time, one year at a time. 

Looking again at today’s gospel story, we are like the man born blind, for it takes us time to grow in the realization of who Jesus is, what he can do for us, and what our response ought to be – namely, making him Lord of our lives and desiring to grow more deeply in love and trust of him.  This is possible when we see life through the eyes of faith.

In the first reading, the Lord gives Samuel a reassuring word that while we see only appearances, God sees into the heart.  It is important then that we too look into our hearts on a regular basis to see what is there, for we are swayed and influenced by what dwells in our hearts.  For most of us, it is a combination of light and darkness.

Paul’s words to the Ephesians in the second reading remind us that we need to seek out all that is light and shun what is dark.  Our heart can be a battleground at times, but Jesus, the Light of the World, is more powerful than the evil one who seeks to draw us into the darkness of selfishness and self-pity.  We need to trust the Lord, for God knows our hearts, and the Lord will give us the grace we need to make them a more suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. 

We rejoice this Laetare Sunday that we have been re-created in the waters of baptism.  We trust Jesus never to refuse our requests to see him more clearly.  And we know that when we most need him, he will find us, as he did the man born blind, and we will see the way forward yet again.

The Third Sunday of Lent

When we take the time to speak to Jesus, he will do wonderful things for us, as he did for the woman at the well.  Jesus began by asking the woman to help him by giving him some water, but he ended up giving her more than she could have imagined.  Jesus never judged or condemned her, but she certainly became aware that Jesus knew all about her.  His conversation with her, their give and take, her willingness to learn from him, all of that changed her forever.  She becomes an evangelist as she rushes away to tell others in the town about her meeting the messiah.

Jesus desires to speak to us.  He has something for us to do.  He knows us and loves us, despite our thinking that we are undeserving of his love, attention, and time.  Jesus has something most precious to give to us, namely a relationship with him that will fill our hearts.  St. Augustine said it best centuries ago, “"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you."

Lent is a time to grow in our knowledge, love, and service of the Lord Jesus.  St. Paul reminds us in the second reading that God has poured the Holy Spirit into our hearts.  The Spirit’s one desire is to lead us more deeply into the mystery of the love of God, incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ.  This will happen when we take time to pray and listen for God’s word to us.

And yet, how often we are like the people of Israel in the desert in the first reading.  We let fear find a place in our hearts.  We grumble and we lose hope. We don’t trust God to provide for us. 

Lent is a time to trust God no matter what we are up against.  We must hold fast to hope, knowing, as St Paul said, that hope does not disappoint.

The woman at the well was filled with faith, hope, and love after speaking to and listening to Jesus.  Her life was changed.  She opened her heart to Jesus and he gave her a new life.  Now he waits to do the same for us.  Remember the psalmist’s prayer, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your heart.”  Instead, as the beloved disciples that we are, we rest close to the heart of Jesus and open our own hearts to receive all that he will give us.

The 2nd Sunday of Lent

The Transfiguration opened the eyes of Peter, James, and John.  They were given a glimpse of what was to come after Jesus had fulfilled his Father's will.  Suffering and death would not be the final word. Faithfulness to the Father would lead to new and eternal life, beyond description.

It was both glorious and frightening.  Jesus was speaking with Moses and Elijah.  The voice of God called Jesus His son.  God told them to listen to Jesus.

Overwhelmed, they fell to the ground.  Then Jesus touched them and told them to rise.  He encouraged them not to be afraid. Opening their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus.

We fall at times and can't see the way forward.  It is then Jesus touches us also and helps us stand.  And God is pleased with us, for rather than giving into fear, we, His beloved, continue on with Jesus, His son.