Lent 4th Wk: Sunday 22nd March, 2020 March 22, 2020
Reflection on the WORD
“Blindness” – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus cured the beggar who was blind from birth. While he was overjoyed at being cured, there was greater joy in being able to see Jesus, the Saviour. The Pharisees continued to be “blind” in their faith. Are we blind to living the Gospel in Christ-like ways?
John 9:1, 6-9, 13-14, 16a, 17
As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (the name means ‘one who has been sent’). So he went off and washed and came back able to see. His neighbours and the people who used to see him before (for he was a beggar) said, ‘Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, but he looks just like him.’ The man himself said, ‘Yes, I am the one.’
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. It had been a Sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man's eyes, Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘That man cannot be from God: he does not keep the Sabbath.’ So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ The man answered, ‘He is a prophet.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- The good action of Jesus in curing the blind on the Sabbath day was viewed by the Pharisees as a defilement of religious rituals.
- It is important that we observe the religious rituals of our faith in the Spirit of God’s love and mercy for every person. If a person is sick in bed, he or she is not obliged to attend Sunday Mass or observe fasting during Lent.
- Let us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to be Christ’ mercy and love to others especially to those who are sick, aged or dying.