FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A
THEME: “SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS”
((Readings: 1st: 1 sam 16:1. 6-7. 10-13; Ps: 22; 2nd: Eph 5:8-14; Gos: Jn 9:1-41))
The story is told about a young man, blind from birth, who fell in love with a girl. The more he got to know her, the deeper his love for her became. A beautiful friendship developed between them. One day, however, a friend told him that the girl was not really looking beautiful at all. From that moment on the blind man began to lose interest in her. He became blind to the inner beauty of her goodness and love and focused on the beauty of appearance which he could not see at all.
The 4th Sunday of lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday which means “Rejoice”. Our mother church begins to rejoice in anticipation of resurrection. The readings today hold to it that it is God who gives proper vision of body and soul. We therefore humbly ask him to cure us of spiritual blindness.
The first reading from the book of Samuel illustrates how blind we are in our judgment because we look at appearances, “God does not see as man sees; Man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1sam 16:7)
In the Gospel, we read about the cure of a man who was born blind. Jesus does not only cure him of physical blindness but also opens his mind and heart to acknowledge him as the son of God and the savior. The blind man receives the light of faith in Jesus while the most religious, and educated Pharisees remain spiritually blind and in darkness.
To be called a Christian is a state of physical and spiritual well-being. However, like the Pharisees in the Gospel, many Christians today suffer from spiritual blindness. We realize that we are spiritually blind if we lack a clear vision of the following:
- VISION OF GOD
We are spiritually blind if we are not able to recognize God in our midst through his word, Eucharist, and neighbor. The cure of the blind man in the Gospel can be associated with our own baptism. Just as the blind man went down into the waters of Siloam and came up whole, so also believers who are immersed in the waters of baptism come up spiritually whole, totally healed of the spiritual blindness with which all of us are born. Through catechism, our knowledge about God was expanded. We learn about the commandments, the scripture, and the will of God. However, as time goes on, we neglect God and his will. We decide to follow our own misguided desires rather than the will of God. We have no space for God, and our hearts become blind. Lent is a period to awaken ourselves from spiritual slumber, to turn our hearts towards God who is always present in our life, and ask him to heal our hearts.
- VISION OF OURSELVES
We are spiritually blind if we lack a clear vision about ourselves; “self-awareness.” Do we understand our identity as Christians and Catholics? Do we understand our identity as the chosen people, a family of God? Are we aware that we are created in the image and likeness of God? Do you recognize your identity as a man or woman? Do you recognize your status as a parent, youth, husband, or wife? These are crucial questions in our times when many people are not happy with their gender, skin color, and origin. We are spiritually blind if we fail to recognize our faults, sins, and our weaknesses. Today we pray that God may open our eyes to understand ourselves and appreciate ourselves the way we are. Lack of self–awareness contributes to spiritual blindness.
- VISION OF OTHERS
Our Lenten observance, prayer, and fasting will be meaningless if we do not see the needy, naked, sick, and hungry people around us and come to their aid. Jesus taught that love for the neighbor is the most basic commandment and that our neighbor is the person who is in need. It will be baseless to talk about loving God if we fail to love our neighbor. “If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother he can see, how can he love God, whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20)
Lent is a period to open our eyes and look around to see a neighbor who needs your assistance. It has been a difficult season without rain and many people are starving. People lack the most basic needs, and we have been blessed with a lot. Let us ask the Lord today to cure us from blindness about the need of others and make us generous with what he has granted us from his providence. Remember “charity begins at home.”
In conclusion dear friends, just like the Pharisees many of us are suffering from spiritual blindness. We look at appearance and not as God who sees the heart. We are blind to God and the Holy Spirit. We lack the love of Jesus therefore we are blind to the suffering, misery, and pain of others. We lack knowledge of ourselves and our identity. We are blind to our sinful status and our faults therefore we do not seek the sacrament of reconciliation. Spiritual blindness is a very common disease in our times. We all have blind spots in our marriages, parenting, and personalities. Jesus wants to heal our blind spots today. May His word and touch in the Eucharist open our spiritual eyes to encounter him in everything and everywhere.
PRAYER: God our Father, help us to see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly. Amen
Have a Joyful Laetare Sunday!! If you want to join us contact me on- ((Contact our vocation office on +255629269140 or +254792299140))
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the word and the spirit of Grace; and may the heart of Jesus live in the heart of all the people. Amen” SVD Prayer
JAMBO KENTAN 
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