Fourth Sunday of Lent
Dear Friends,
Recently a friend described to me the experiences of a blind person. Everything in their life is three-dimensional, and understood through spatial awareness. Even in modern cases where sight is restored through surgery, achieving full vision and mobility can take many years. When Jesus heals the blind man it is a healing of the whole person. We see how the opening of the eyes of the body has also led to the opening of the eyes of the soul. The plot unfolds quickly, leading the healed blind man to finally discern Jesus’ true identity and profess faith in him: ‘Who is [the Son of Man], Lord, that I may believe?’ — ‘The one speaking with you is he.’ — ‘I do believe, Lord,’ and he worshiped him.
All three readings today suggest this theme: discerning the face of God. The first and second readings highlight that discerning the truth is a gradual process of learning and judging things as God sees them. Samuel must learn through trial and error to discern which of Jesse's seven sons is the Lord's chosen one. Even St. Paul advises, "Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." Developing the gift of discernment allows us to see and judge things as God sees them, rather than through the lens of our own compulsions of temperament or messy life situations.
Jesus' method of healing by smearing saliva and clay illustrates this messiness. He also explains why the man was born blind: "so that the works of God might be made visible through him." Seeing our weaknesses through God's eyes allows us to embrace both our internal and external messiness as open spaces where His intervention and power can be made perfect through them. Sometimes, with the Lord, there is confusion. Yet, within the confusion of discernment and human weakness we find an open space for God's intervention so that His works may be made visible through us.
Meditating on the details of Jesus' passion brings us closer to understanding this truth. In Jesus' passion, dying and suffering are completely turned inside-out. And with time, the resurrection reveals the face of God who is always renewing, recreating, and drawing new life out of mess and confusion.
Anthony Quinn, Young Adult Coordinator