Fr. Michael Carlini sx
Comment of the Gospel of the 4th Sunday of Lent – Year A
The II Vatican Council explains that the purpose of lent is to prepare catechumens for baptism or, for those among us who already received it, a grace filled opportunity to recall to mind all its richness (SC 109).
The Church selects for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent (Year A) three chapters of John’s gospel that are centered on elements that are used as images for Baptism: Water (the Samaritan woman), Light (the healing of the born blind) and Life (Jesus resurrects his dear friend Lazarus). All these three elements are present in the liturgy of Baptism.
As we journey along this Lenten season, the gospel readings prepare us for the rites of initiation during Easter Vigil. The ancient Church cherished this season of lent, calling it the “40-days-sacrament”, expressing clearly its saving power.
Jesus heals a born blind person; in his gospel, John does not call these healing actions “miracles” but “signs”. They are performed to direct our eyes to a deeper meaning. They point to a particular direction.
The account of Jesus meeting with the blind, like the one with the Samaritan woman last Sunday, is not mainly a historical description but rather a journey that leads the disciple to meet the real person of Christ.
The journey of the disciple
The path of the blind man is the route of any catechumen who asks the question: "Who is Jesus?". Starting from square one, the blind man does not know who healed him. According to the bible, we become blind when we do not listen to the Word of God. Each time we celebrate the Mass, the scripture opens the eyes of our faith and we see, beyond the bread and the wine, the person of Christ and partake in God’s life.
The gospel of the born blind is a catechesis on knowing more about Jesus, who is presented with 7 titles:
Rabbi (=Master) (Jn 9:2), Sent (Jesus is the Missionary sent by the Father) (v.7), Man (v.11 and 16), Prophet (v.17), Messiah (v.22), Son of Man (v.35), Lord (v.36).
The first six are human titles, the last is a profession of faith. All of them offer us a clearer understanding of the figure of Christ. The aim of the narration is to educate the catechumen to a deep knowledge of Jesus, and to prepare a personal encounter with him.
The person that was born blind, meeting with Jesus, finally told him: “I do believe in you, Lord” and worshipped him. He received the rare gift of seeing Christ with his own eyes. The ancient Church gave the catechumens, newly baptized at Easter Vigil, the title of “Enlightened”, whilst offering them a catechesis that explained all the transformation they personally experienced during the Initiations Rites.
After water has been poured on his/her head, the newly baptized receives a candle, that the godparent has lit from the Easter Candle. The candle represents Christ, who described himself as “the Light of the world” (v 5).
The Pandemic
Many countries in the world are presently experiencing the dark night, due to the virus pandemic. Thousand of people are sick; along with their relatives, they cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. We join pope Francis in praying with and for them. As for us all, we are told to reduce our social life: it can be seen as an opportunity to live this Lenten season as a time to think again about the gift of our baptism and to dedicate more time to prayer and reading/meditation of the Bible, which is the light of our Christian journey.
Comment of the Gospel of the 4th Sunday of Lent – Year A
The II Vatican Council explains that the purpose of lent is to prepare catechumens for baptism or, for those among us who already received it, a grace filled opportunity to recall to mind all its richness (SC 109).
The Church selects for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent (Year A) three chapters of John’s gospel that are centered on elements that are used as images for Baptism: Water (the Samaritan woman), Light (the healing of the born blind) and Life (Jesus resurrects his dear friend Lazarus). All these three elements are present in the liturgy of Baptism.
As we journey along this Lenten season, the gospel readings prepare us for the rites of initiation during Easter Vigil. The ancient Church cherished this season of lent, calling it the “40-days-sacrament”, expressing clearly its saving power.
Jesus heals a born blind person; in his gospel, John does not call these healing actions “miracles” but “signs”. They are performed to direct our eyes to a deeper meaning. They point to a particular direction.
The account of Jesus meeting with the blind, like the one with the Samaritan woman last Sunday, is not mainly a historical description but rather a journey that leads the disciple to meet the real person of Christ.
The journey of the disciple
The path of the blind man is the route of any catechumen who asks the question: "Who is Jesus?". Starting from square one, the blind man does not know who healed him. According to the bible, we become blind when we do not listen to the Word of God. Each time we celebrate the Mass, the scripture opens the eyes of our faith and we see, beyond the bread and the wine, the person of Christ and partake in God’s life.
The gospel of the born blind is a catechesis on knowing more about Jesus, who is presented with 7 titles:
Rabbi (=Master) (Jn 9:2), Sent (Jesus is the Missionary sent by the Father) (v.7), Man (v.11 and 16), Prophet (v.17), Messiah (v.22), Son of Man (v.35), Lord (v.36).
The first six are human titles, the last is a profession of faith. All of them offer us a clearer understanding of the figure of Christ. The aim of the narration is to educate the catechumen to a deep knowledge of Jesus, and to prepare a personal encounter with him.
The person that was born blind, meeting with Jesus, finally told him: “I do believe in you, Lord” and worshipped him. He received the rare gift of seeing Christ with his own eyes. The ancient Church gave the catechumens, newly baptized at Easter Vigil, the title of “Enlightened”, whilst offering them a catechesis that explained all the transformation they personally experienced during the Initiations Rites.
After water has been poured on his/her head, the newly baptized receives a candle, that the godparent has lit from the Easter Candle. The candle represents Christ, who described himself as “the Light of the world” (v 5).
The Pandemic
Many countries in the world are presently experiencing the dark night, due to the virus pandemic. Thousand of people are sick; along with their relatives, they cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. We join pope Francis in praying with and for them. As for us all, we are told to reduce our social life: it can be seen as an opportunity to live this Lenten season as a time to think again about the gift of our baptism and to dedicate more time to prayer and reading/meditation of the Bible, which is the light of our Christian journey.