Fourth Sunday of Lent (A)

Fr. Joan Ant. MATEO i García(Tremp, Lleida, Spain)

Today, in the Fourth Sunday of Lent —also called rose or “laetare” (rejoice) Sunday— the entire liturgy invites us to experience a deep joy, a great exultation, because Easter is getting nearer.

Jesus was a factor of great joy for that man who had been blind from birth, and who received his eyesight from Him along with the gift of his spiritual light. The blind believed and he received Christ’s light. On the other hand, those Pharisees, so engulfed in their own wisdom and light, remained blinded because of their heart hardness and their sins. In fact, “the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight” (Jn 9:18).

How essential it is Christ’s light to see reality in its right true dimension! Without the light of faith we would be almost blind. We have been bestowed with Christ’s light and we need our life to go on being enlightened by this light. Even more so, this light must flare in the sanctity of life so that it may appeal to those who are still unaware of it. All this means conversion and personal growth in charity, especially in this time of Lent and in this final stage. Saint Leo the Great exhorts us: “Although, it is always good to exercise ourselves in the virtue of Charity, these days of Lent invite us to, in a more urgent manner.”

One unique thing can move us away from the light and joy Jesus Christ gives us, and this is sin; trying to live far from Lord’s light. Unfortunately, many —at times, even ourselves— go deeply into this dark and gloomy road until losing the light and peace. Out of his own experience, Saint Augustine claimed that there is nothing unhappier than the happiness of those who sin.

Easter is getting near and the Lord wants to communicate to us all the joy of Resurrection. Let us prepare ourselves to receive and celebrate it. “Go wash” (Jn 9:7), Jesus tells us… To wash in the purifying waters of the Sacrament of Penance! We shall find again the light and the joy and we shall accomplish our best preparation for Easter.

Thoughts on Today’s Gospel

• “Therefore receive the likeness of God, which you lost through evil deeds.” (Saint Augustine)
• “Because of Adam’s sin we too are born “blind”. Sin wounded humanity and destined it to the darkness of death, but the newness of life shines out in Christ, as well as the destination to which we are called.” (Benedict XVI)
• “Often Jesus asks the sick to believe. He makes use of signs to heal: spittle and the laying on of hands, mud and washing. The sick try to touch him, ‘for power came forth from him and healed them all’ (Lk 6:19) and so in the sacraments Christ continues to “touch” us in order to heal us.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 1504)