FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT ( A )
Jn 9: 1-41
Blindness is one of life’s biggest burdens. It’s a dead-end deprivation, with a sting of sadness. Life for the blind person is an endless dark night in solitary confinement. Having stated clearly that the man’s disability had nothing to do with sin, Jesus mixed a paste, rubbed it on his eyes and restored his sight. His healing was instantaneous and he returned home to experience the world in a distinctively new way. All his life he had recognized people by their voices. Now, for the first time, he saw what human faces and hands looked like. It must have come as a surprise to him to realize that some of his neighbors his not wish him well of his cure. When the Pharisees brow-beat him and tried to force him into a denial that his sight had been restored, he quickly learned that there was more to sight than seeing the light of day. There is a deeper malady, a spiritual blindness which comes from closing the windows of the soul and putting up the shutters in order to keep out of Jesus who is the light of the world.
This gospel is for all time and every day. At a deeper level it reminds us that we were all born blind and groping in spiritual darkness until at baptism we began a journey of faith in the likeness of Christ. The life we received at baptism gives us the power to bring Christ to everything we do and to every person we meet. Light is symbol of life with Christ and darkness is the religious image for sinfulness, shameful deeds and unbelief. Each of us is meant to be a beacon of light showing others how to live and giving direction to their lives by our good example. It is an opportune time to reflect on how we are living out our baptismal commitment and see if Christ really counts and influences our behavior. If we are courteous and friendly in our dealings with our neighbors we can be certain that the light of Christ is being reflected through us.
Christ is asking us to look at our blind-spots because coming from darkness into light is not an easy journey. It takes time and requires patience because of the many pitfalls on the road. In spite of our best resolutions the light of Christ is inclined to grow dim within us. Jesus knows our weaknesses and is willing to help us provided we come to Him for healing. Having been called to walk as children of the light we must keep praying: “Lord, that I may see.”
Friday, February 29, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
3rd Sunday of Lent (A)
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
(Jn. 4:5-15,19-26,39, 40-42)
Exhausted from a long walk into the hot sun, Jesus sat wearily down and dismissed Jewish tradition by asking the Samaritan woman for a drink of water to quench his thirst. No Jew ever spoke to a Samaritan because a century-old feud kept alive in each generation had embittered relationships. Thirst knows no boundaries so they struck up a conversation, and the woman, taking Jesus literally, was astonished to hear that he could provide her with water that would last forever. She had always wanted to be spared from the embarrassment of being snubbed at the well by her neighbors who despised her because of her chequered lifestyle. As the conversation deepened the woman came to realize that her problem was not the lack of water but an inner thirst that no earthly water could satisfy – a thirst caused by the absence of God in her life. The Samaritan woman had a story to tell because five husbands failed to bring her happiness. Jesus lead her to look at her deeply troubled life and helped her to unburden her soul. Without a note of condemnation he accepted her, and coming to terms with everything she ever did wrong, she was released from her guilt. He gave her hope and offered her nothing less than the living waters of friendship and the Spirit of God which leads to eternal life.
Today’s readings focus on water and thirst, but what exactly do water and thirst mean in the gospel context? It’s not just water as we know it that Jesus is talking about, but the saving love of God poured out into the hearts enabling us to find life and peace. Thirst stands for the absence of God in our lives- that unsatisfied longing within every human heart. St. Augustine talks about ‘Out hearts being restless until they find rest in God.’ Since the pleasures of life fail to satisfy the thirsting human spirit, the only remedy is a relationship with Jesus who provides a mysterious type of water producing a well-spring of life within us.
What it took five husbands to teach the Samaritan woman, we learn from the mistakes of over-indulgence, drugs, promiscuity and gambling. Her conversation gives us great hope because in human terms a worthwhile life was beyond her. Yet her past did not hinder her from coming close to Christ. Jesus won her over by gently leading her out of herself and raising her mind and heart to higher things. At Jacob’s well a man, by asking her for a drink of water, restored a woman’s dignity and changed her life. When we were baptized we received this saving water of life for the first time. It was mere beginning which planted us, seed-like, in the garden of God. As life goes on we need to be constantly in touch with this fountain of living water which Jesus gave us- otherwise we wither and the miracle of growth in godliness does not take place. Today Jesus asks us to have a look at how we are living out our baptism. If we are suffering from thirst his spirit is always at hand to refresh us and lead us in our search for the unending, the unchanging and the eternal.
(Jn. 4:5-15,19-26,39, 40-42)
Exhausted from a long walk into the hot sun, Jesus sat wearily down and dismissed Jewish tradition by asking the Samaritan woman for a drink of water to quench his thirst. No Jew ever spoke to a Samaritan because a century-old feud kept alive in each generation had embittered relationships. Thirst knows no boundaries so they struck up a conversation, and the woman, taking Jesus literally, was astonished to hear that he could provide her with water that would last forever. She had always wanted to be spared from the embarrassment of being snubbed at the well by her neighbors who despised her because of her chequered lifestyle. As the conversation deepened the woman came to realize that her problem was not the lack of water but an inner thirst that no earthly water could satisfy – a thirst caused by the absence of God in her life. The Samaritan woman had a story to tell because five husbands failed to bring her happiness. Jesus lead her to look at her deeply troubled life and helped her to unburden her soul. Without a note of condemnation he accepted her, and coming to terms with everything she ever did wrong, she was released from her guilt. He gave her hope and offered her nothing less than the living waters of friendship and the Spirit of God which leads to eternal life.
Today’s readings focus on water and thirst, but what exactly do water and thirst mean in the gospel context? It’s not just water as we know it that Jesus is talking about, but the saving love of God poured out into the hearts enabling us to find life and peace. Thirst stands for the absence of God in our lives- that unsatisfied longing within every human heart. St. Augustine talks about ‘Out hearts being restless until they find rest in God.’ Since the pleasures of life fail to satisfy the thirsting human spirit, the only remedy is a relationship with Jesus who provides a mysterious type of water producing a well-spring of life within us.
What it took five husbands to teach the Samaritan woman, we learn from the mistakes of over-indulgence, drugs, promiscuity and gambling. Her conversation gives us great hope because in human terms a worthwhile life was beyond her. Yet her past did not hinder her from coming close to Christ. Jesus won her over by gently leading her out of herself and raising her mind and heart to higher things. At Jacob’s well a man, by asking her for a drink of water, restored a woman’s dignity and changed her life. When we were baptized we received this saving water of life for the first time. It was mere beginning which planted us, seed-like, in the garden of God. As life goes on we need to be constantly in touch with this fountain of living water which Jesus gave us- otherwise we wither and the miracle of growth in godliness does not take place. Today Jesus asks us to have a look at how we are living out our baptism. If we are suffering from thirst his spirit is always at hand to refresh us and lead us in our search for the unending, the unchanging and the eternal.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The temptations of Jesus
1st Sunday of Lent (A)
Mt. 4: 1-11
The Temptations of Jesus
To begin Lent with the story of the fall of our first parents who disobeyed the word of God by eating the forbidden fruit, should make us aware of our own sinfulness. Before Adam set out on the road of disobedience man and woman knew perfect happiness, and lived in harmony with God. In subtle form the serpent made his presence felt by tempting Adam and Eve to make themselves equal to God. The consequence of their action has cast a long shadow over humanity ever since and created a wall of division between God and ourselves. Their fall cheated humanity of its birthright and burdened it with a sinful heritage. It brought about the kind of world we know so well – a world broken by sin – and it does not take much soul-searching to find evidence of our own sinfulness. There is sin in our lives and will be until the end of our days. We could hardly be true to ourselves if we did not admit this. However, all is not lost because out of the desert comes Jesus to begin his mission of saving people.
Greater than anything lost by Adam’s disobedience is the new life won by the obedience of Christ who shared in our weakness so that we might live off his strength. The aimless wanderings of previous ages are given a definite direction in Jesus Christ who is a light shining in the darkness exposing sin for the evil that it is. The story of the temptation of Jesus, where he is enticed to misuse his God-given powers for selfish purposes is well known. When he was tired and hungry it would have been so easy to turn stones into bread and away hunger. Likewise, throwing himself off the parapet of the temple would have been a spectacular display of his closeness to God. To bow down and worship the tempter would drive a wedge of dis-obedience between the Father and himself. In permitting himself to experience temptation he sets the example we must all follow to when we come face to face with the human dilemma of choosing between good and evil. We draw comfort from the fact that the Savior knew what it felt like to be tempted and as a result can sympathize with us in our weakness.
Lent is a time for new life in Christ. By joining Jesus in the desert of our hearts we focus our attention upon the things which really matter in life. The voice of God is calling us home and we should make a conscious decision to serve the Lord and do what is pleasing to Him. What are our temptations and how do we face them in the day to day basis? Have a fruitful season of Lent.
Mt. 4: 1-11
The Temptations of Jesus
To begin Lent with the story of the fall of our first parents who disobeyed the word of God by eating the forbidden fruit, should make us aware of our own sinfulness. Before Adam set out on the road of disobedience man and woman knew perfect happiness, and lived in harmony with God. In subtle form the serpent made his presence felt by tempting Adam and Eve to make themselves equal to God. The consequence of their action has cast a long shadow over humanity ever since and created a wall of division between God and ourselves. Their fall cheated humanity of its birthright and burdened it with a sinful heritage. It brought about the kind of world we know so well – a world broken by sin – and it does not take much soul-searching to find evidence of our own sinfulness. There is sin in our lives and will be until the end of our days. We could hardly be true to ourselves if we did not admit this. However, all is not lost because out of the desert comes Jesus to begin his mission of saving people.
Greater than anything lost by Adam’s disobedience is the new life won by the obedience of Christ who shared in our weakness so that we might live off his strength. The aimless wanderings of previous ages are given a definite direction in Jesus Christ who is a light shining in the darkness exposing sin for the evil that it is. The story of the temptation of Jesus, where he is enticed to misuse his God-given powers for selfish purposes is well known. When he was tired and hungry it would have been so easy to turn stones into bread and away hunger. Likewise, throwing himself off the parapet of the temple would have been a spectacular display of his closeness to God. To bow down and worship the tempter would drive a wedge of dis-obedience between the Father and himself. In permitting himself to experience temptation he sets the example we must all follow to when we come face to face with the human dilemma of choosing between good and evil. We draw comfort from the fact that the Savior knew what it felt like to be tempted and as a result can sympathize with us in our weakness.
Lent is a time for new life in Christ. By joining Jesus in the desert of our hearts we focus our attention upon the things which really matter in life. The voice of God is calling us home and we should make a conscious decision to serve the Lord and do what is pleasing to Him. What are our temptations and how do we face them in the day to day basis? Have a fruitful season of Lent.
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