Fr. Tom’s Letters

Lent is speedily moving along as we enter the second half of the season. We do so on this Laetare Sunday as we hear from John’s Gospel the story of the Healing of the Man Born Blind. As we continue on towards Holy Week and Easter, we have some Lenten activities in which you might participate.

Þ We continue to have Lenten weekday evening Mass at 5:30PM. This is in addition to our usual 7:30 and 9:00AM Masses.

Þ We have Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at 7:00PM in the Church.

Þ Our March Monday Mission nights continue for the next three Mondays:

1. Monday, March 16: at 2:30 and 7:00PM include a presentation on the Sunday gospel story of the Raising of Lazarus as well as a period of Eucharistic Adoration and recitation of a decade of the rosary.

2. Monday, March 23: Healing Masses will be celebrated at noon and 7:00PM which will include the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Parishioners seeking healing for themselves or for other family members, relatives, and friends are encouraged to attend. Lenten is a healing time for us all.

3. Monday, March 30: Sacrament of Reconciliation, Confession, and Penance from 2-4 and 6-9PM.

Þ On Wednesday, March 18, we will be having a speaker from Commonweal Magazine whose focus will be on our experience of Pope Leo in this first year of his pontificate.

It is our hope that all these offerings are helpful to you during this Lenten season.

GOSPEL STORY OF HEALING OF MAN BORN BLIND

We hear today another lengthy gospel story about the healing of the blind man. It is a story in which the miracle happens at the very beginning and then we hear the various reactions of people in the man’s community. As was the case of the gospel last week, there are many details that catch our attention.

Jesus says about the blind man: “it is so (his blindness) that the works of God might be made visible through him.” As is often the case with Jesus in the gospel, his words are ironic, unexpected, surprising, and they invite our serious reflection. The irony here is that the words of God might “be visible” through a blind man. For the blind person vision is a lack. The world of color, shape, and size is a challenge for the blind person as his sight is seriously diminished, if not totally lacking. Blindness is a vulnerability. But for Jesus this person’s blindness is no impediment to the work of God. In fact, the man’s blindness is a very instrument for Jesus’ work. Can we understand the man’s blindness is his gift that will invite others to a greater life and understanding of Jesus? Jesus’ love for the man born blind brings Jesus to heal him.

Part of the gospel is disappointing as many characters resist the invitation that Jesus offers through the miracle. In a sense they are blinded by their own convictions and mistaken beliefs about sin. They fail to see the gift of the man’s blindness and his cure. The healing is life changing for the man and offers new life for those who witness the miracle. They resist what is clear for all to see. Their blindness is far more profound and damaging than the man born blind who is healed by the love of Jesus.

There are so many Lenten considerations that arise from this story. Are we afflicted with a blindness that prevents us from seeing how God makes himself visible to us through persons that are the most vulnerable? As the blind man progresses through the story, he becomes stronger and grows in his faith. At the end of the story the blind man professes his faith, “I do believe, Lord.” As we progress through these Lenten weeks may we grow stronger in our belief, faith, and trust in the Lord so we might say with the blind man, “I do believe, Lord.”

Have a peaceful week!