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Lent 4 A 2023

Our readings this 4th Sunday of Lent are about darkness and light. We all know that our Baptism connects us closely with the Source of Light, Jesus. Staying connected to Jesus and away from sin is our life's journey with lots of ups and downs.

In thinking about coming out of darkness into the light physically, lots of visuals flooded my brain. Sometimes we put up our arms or hands in front of us to defend our sensitive eyes from the sudden brightness. Sometimes we squint. Sometimes we have to open closed eyes very slowly. Sometimes we need sunglasses.

For me, it is the same kind of thing spiritually. Although walking the journey closely with the Light of the World is the best source of spiritual nourishment, I have to go easy to accept the brightness. I need the God of multiple chances to assist by allowing me to use spiritual sunglasses. The God of Sunglasses gives me the graces I need a little at a time, mixed-up with those inevitable times of shade and blinking, to move ahead, one baby step at a time. Yes, there is an occasional use of eye drops, too, and tears.

What are your spiritual sunglasses? Some of mine include prayer, Scripture, like-minded friends who encourage me, and helping others on their journey by mentoring or walking with them. I have to stop along the way to be sure I remember how much I am loved/ nourished myself though, by the growth potential aided by the Son. Sometimes the heat is a bit much or I feel withered from the strain of life. A cold washcloth reminds me that I am human... and sometimes I just have to sit in the shade and watch God do it all. The vineyard does not belong to me after all!

Blessings,

Dr. Lanie LeBlanc OP

Southern Dominican Laity

lanie@leblanc.one

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Fourth Sunday of Lent March 19, 2023

1st Samuel 16:1 & 6-7 & 10-13; Responsorial Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; Gospel Acclamation John 8:12; John 9:1-41

The first reading is interesting. It is written pretty much the perspective of God directing Samuel to point a replacement for the fallen King, the first king of Israel, Saul. The main characters are Samuel, Jesse the father of eight sons, seven sons who do not meet God’s expectations. And then there’s a shepherd boy, a young lad who isn’t at home but out in the mountain pastures watching the flock and shagging stones with his sling. He’s only a boy, not yet a man. David was surprised when called from watching his father’s sheep. When he came into Samuel’s presence and had oil poured on his head he must have a thought, "Hey this is way cool!" The honor of being anointed for what he had little to no understanding was a great ego trip. "Now let me get back to the flock before the predators snatch away the lambs." This was the beginning of success after success, often followed by terrible decisions that caused others pain and even death. But, it is clear from the Psalms and Rabbinic literature, that this adolescent was God’s instrument in unifying and advancing the faith of the nation. A kid, chosen to be king, is a highly unlikely choice. Certainly, the expectations of the nation were ignored by God.

Expectations arising in human imagination are often contradicted by God’s plan. David, not in his wildest imaginings, ever thought of becoming the cherished leader of his tribe, let alone the whole nation.

The events in the gospel this Sunday are during the seven day feast of Tabernacles, in Hebrew called Succoth. That celebration was the time of Succah. The Succah is a temporary shelter, a tent, a hut used for a time; not a permanent dwelling. This feast is a celebration, a remembering of the time when Moses led the Hebrew tribes in the forty year trek in the desert to the promised land. It was also connected with the fall harvest. The connection of the temporary dwelling commemorating the desert wanderings to the harvest is that the tent dwellings brought the nation to the promised land where the land brought forth food and nourishment and permanency. It was a passing through, much like later the Cross of Jesus is a passing through death to resurrection. Here is a lesson for us. The suffering of physical pain as on Calvary, and the suffering of spirit/mental pain as in Gethsemane is a passing through for us into mini-resurrections leading to our final resurrection after passing through dying, through death into eternity.

Jesus, in the gospel narrative, is leaving the temple. Because Succoth is one of the three pilgrimage feasts when all who were able came to Jerusalem to worship and sacrifice at the temple, it was a time when beggars gathered around the temple for the almsgiving of pilgrims. Typically, Jesus responds to a request for healing. It is strange that Jesus responds to the man’s blindness. There is no plea from the blind man or friends or family. The disciples see this man and wonder aloud whether his blindness is because of his sin or the sin of his parents. Any infirmity in the religious culture prevalent in Judah was thought to be the result of sin: the individual’s or the parents. Jesus puts that misunderstanding to rest. The suffering of anyone – then and now – is not necessarily retribution for sin. Jesus makes it possible for us to avoid such judgements and thus respond with mercy and compassion.

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Volume 2 is for you. Your thoughts, reflections, and insights on the next Sundays readings can influence the preaching you hear. Send them to preacherexchange@att.net.  Deadline is Wednesday Noon. Include your Name, and Email Address.

-- Fr. John Boll, OP