Lent 4

“Jesus is everything: in that He judges, He is Law, in that He teaches, He is Gospel, in that He saves, He is Grace, in that He begets, He is Father, in that He is begotten, He is Son, in that He suffers, He is Sheep, in that He is buried, He is Man, in that He comes to life again He is God.”

— St. Melito of Sardis

Recently, I had 5 funerals in one week. Today on this 4th Sunday of Lent, I will baptize 5 new members of our faith community here at St. Joseph. From the darkness of the womb to the darkness of the tomb, the Light of faith guides our way! Today is traditionally called "Laetare Sunday," the intermission or midpoint of our Lenten preparation. Today‘s rose colored vestments are worn reflecting joy. The opening antiphon calls: "Rejoice, Jerusalem" (that is, "Laetare Jerusalem"). Jerusalem is the city of peace, light and victory.

As in a play, sporting event or symphony there is a "break in the action" for an intermission, today there is an intermission in the Church's discipline of Lent to pause and reflect. It is also a time to pray for the catechumens who are preparing for full entrance into the Catholic Church, that they be illuminated with faith. This midpoint allows us to review our faithfulness to our Lenten resolutions and examine more closely our conscience.

Sometimes our vision becomes myopic when the tyranny of our own needs, desires and self-interests keeps us from seeing other‘s needs, longings and concerns. To gain a Christian perspective, to see life through the lens of faith, is our daily challenge. When we let the light of Christ shine in our hearts, God‘s grace spreads to those around us. We are to be the presence of the Kingdom. All we say, think and do must be oriented to holiness. We must tend to that light burning in us so that it is not extinguished by the darkness of sin. Through the gift of Baptism we are called to let Christ‘s light shine brightly in the world — as individual Christians, parishes, dioceses, and as the whole Universal Church — so that through the spirit of joyful boldness the light of Christ will shine. Sometimes it is by what we say, sometimes by what we do, but most of the time, by who we are.

We humbly ask God‘s forgiveness for the times we have extinguished Christ‘s Light through our selfishness and sin. We are called to live a repentant life. Our blind spots, our ignorance, our error, our prejudices and our fallen human nature can certainly keep us in the shadows. Since Christ is the true Light and He enlightens believers, He lances with the precision of a surgeon, the darkness of our sinfulness by healing our blindness, weakness, defects and imperfections.

In the Gospel today, Jesus heals an unnamed blind man not only of his physical sight, but of his spiritual in-sight to reflect God‘s glory. In the early Church, Baptism was referred to as “enlightenment” or “illumination” as we were to leave behind the darkness of sin and unbelief and live in the grace and liberating life of Jesus Christ. Those who live in God‘s light and grace do what is good, right, just and holy. Illuminated by the gift of faith, they avoid the dark and secret works of sin. It is Christ, who is Light, who redeems, purifies and heals all wrongs. We are called to live as "children of light" in our life-long struggle to be faithful to God. The brokenness, woundedness and sickness of sin is healed by Christ‘s mercy, forgiveness and love.

I had a blind great-great aunt, Elizabeth Sullivan Mulcahy, who married Francis Mulcahy. Both were blind and each had a seeing-eye dog. They married blind and only knew each other through sound, touch and faith. They lived in Johnstown, PA (80 miles from Pittsburgh) and I always marveled at the graces they conferred on others. After her husband, Francis died, my family moved Aunt Betty five days before the historic 1977 flood in Johnstown, and she lived at Marian Manor in Greentree until God called her home in 1982. We were fortunate that she was spared from that great flood and rescued in coming to Pittsburgh. Her light, faith and grace blessed many in that home operated by the Holy Spirit Sisters. I worked at the home from age 13 until my ordination at age 26. I‘ll never forget how the warmth of the sun shining on Aunt Betty‘s face brought so much peace. Despite her apparent darkness, she brought Christ‘s light to us in wonderful and marvelous ways. A blind person asked St. Anthony, "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied, "Yes, losing your vision."

We were born in darkness,
children of the night and of sadness.
You passed near us, Lord Jesus.
You touched our eyes,
and the dawn of your love rose upon us.
Christ, be our light of glory.

We were straying, seeking our path,
and the day was darker than night.
You passed near us, Lord Jesus.
You lit the light of your Gospel,
and our path became a way of Light.
Christ, be our light of glory.

Our eyes were red with tears,
and our expression dim with sadness.
You passed near us, Lord Jesus.
You bathed our eyes in the dew of your morning.
Then we recognized you,
and we followed you singing with joy.
Christ, be our light of glory.

We were seated on the side of the road
begging for a smile of joy, a look of love.
You passed near us, Lord Jesus.
You transfigured us into children of light.
Then the morning star shone in our heart,
And we became light for the world.
Christ, be our light of glory.

God our Father,
You dwell in light inaccessible,
and no look has ever approached your splendor.
But you sent your Son Jesus, light of the world,
and his sweet light has illuminated our earth.
We pray to you:
when we close our eyes on the beauty of this world,
open them upon the splendor of your eternity. Amen.

— Lucien Deiss, CSSp, A Garden of Prayers