LENT IS A TIME OF SEEING WITH THE EYE OF FAITH

 

Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scriptural Texts: 1 Samuel 16:1b. 6-7. 10-13a, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41

Today, the fourth Sunday in Lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday, which means “rejoice” in Latin. On this day, the liturgical color of the vestments and altar cloths is changed from purple to rose, which is a lighter shade of violet. This change of color symbolizes the Church’s joy and hope in anticipation of the coming of Easter. Laetare Sunday is a reminder that, even in the midst of our Lenten penances and sacrifices, we can always find cause for rejoicing in the great love and mercy of God. The mood of this Sunday also speaks to us in our own peculiar situation here in Nigeria. Despite the difficulties and senselessness of the moment, we should not lose the joy that the Gospel gives.

On this fourth Sunday in Lent, our Lenten journey with Jesus takes us to another location and this time around, it is to the street where we encounter the man born blind. In the gospel reading, the man was unnamed. As such, he can be any of us. The gospel reading tells us that as Jesus passed by, he saw the blind man and went to him (John 9:1-7). Jesus took an advocate standpoint by going to the blind man for that encounter. This miracle not only shows Jesus’ power as a healer, but also his compassion for those who are suffering. Encounter is always the first step is every process of healing and transformation. If we too must be transformed, we must first of all encounter Jesus. It is this same encounter that we find in the first reading. Before Samuel anointed the next king of Israel, he had to encounter the sons of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:6-13). Today and within this season of Lent, the Lord wants us to encounter him.

Nobody encounters the Lord and remains the same. When the blind man encountered Jesus, we are told that Jesus spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud on the man’s eyes. He then told the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did as he was told, and when he washed the mud from his eyes, he could see for the first time in his life (John 9:1-12).  The man’s encounter with Jesus brought about the restoration of his physical eyesight. Once he was able to see, all that he knew was that his healing was made possible by a man called Jesus. He got his physical sight but not the eyes of faith. The light of day makes us see as men see but the light of faith makes us see as God sees. This was also the case with Samuel in the first reading (1 Samuel 16:7). The blind man was not just healed of his blindness but he also received the light of faith which made him recognize Jesus as the Son of God and then came to believe in him (John 9:35-4).

As we reflect on this Gospel reading, we are called to consider the ways in which like the Pharisees, we too might be spiritually blind. Perhaps we are too focused on our own wants and needs; we are indifferent to the workings of Jesus like the Pharisees; or we are too quick to judge others without considering their perspectives. Like the blind man in the story, we too can be healed and come to see the world in a new and more compassionate way. This season of Lent is a time to turn away from our sins and to turn towards God; to turn away from darkness to light; to turn away from unbelief to faith. As we approach Easter, let us take the opportunity to open our hearts and minds to the transformative power of God’s love. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that, through Christ, we can be healed of our spiritual blindness and be transformed into the people that God calls us to be.