Rejoice Sunday!
Rejoice Sunday!
We are on the Fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, this Sunday is known as “Laetare Sunday,” from the Latin word for “Rejoice!” It sets a tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery. The theme of the reading is new life and spiritual sight.
The fourth Sunday of Lent gives us a review of salvation history. The first reading from the book of 1 Samuel (16:1; 6-7; 10-13) is a pivotal moment in salvation history. Judges governed Israelites. They asked God for a King and gave them Saul, the first king, but he offended God, and the kingship was taken from him. The Lord asked Samuel, the last Judge in Israel, to go to Bethlehem to anoint Jesse’s son, the next king. We read in the Book of Psalms 78:70-71, “He chose David his servant, took him from the sheepfolds. From tending ewes, God brought him to shepherd Jacob, his people, Israel, and his heritage. He shepherded them with a pure heart; with skilled hands, he guided them.” Samuel followed God’s command and anointed David and the Holy Spirit came upon him. This anointing is a type of baptism. We read in the book of Isaiah 1:1-2 “A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots, a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.”
The Gospel reading also serves as a symbolic catechesis on baptism. Isaiah prophesied, and Jews believed that when Jesus came, he would heal the blind and other diseases. We read in Isaiah 42:7, “To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.”
Jews believed that wherever there is suffering, there is sin. Book of Exodus 20:5: “…inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation.” So, the disciples brought up this question to Jesus. Jesus denies such a cause and tells them it is a providential plan of God. God has a higher purpose in allowing this man to be blind, but it is not the result of his own personal sin. Jesus gave the man who was blind physical sight; it is a sign that Jesus gives spiritual sight to see the world in the light of heaven. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus is the source of truth, faith, and life. The Man who received the sight received the light of faith.
Jesus applied the clay mixed with saliva on the man’s eyes and asked him to “go and wash” in the 'Pool of Siloam.’ In the 2nd book of Kings (5:10-14) Elisha commanded Naaman the Syrian to “go and wash” in the Jordan River to be restored to health. The Pool of Siloam was situated in the southern district of ancient Jerusalem, providing a vital water source for the city. Siloam means sent. Jesus told him, “Go and wash.” Sacrament of baptism that our sins are washed away. The Rite of Baptism has many references to the life-giving qualities of water. Here, Jesus is the source of living water. This miracle anticipates the administration of baptism.
As we saw last Sunday, the Samaritan woman, who was initially questioning yet ultimately recognized Christ and received the living water (John 4:7-42), the blind man’s language reflects his growing faith and understanding of Christ's identity. In the early part of this passage, he refers to Jesus as a man; as the passage progresses, he refers to Jesus as a prophet from God, and at the end, he proclaims his faith and worships him.
This Gospel passage is associated with baptism. Just as the blind man went down into the waters of Siloam and came up whole, so also believers who are immersed in the waters of Baptism come up spiritually whole, totally healed of the spiritual blindness with which all of us are born.
Through our Baptism, we are called to be a missionary. As you are aware, we are currently amid the Eucharistic Revival and the Transition to Mission. Our parents and grandparents lived in Christendom, which meant their children received the Sacraments, and everyone attended church and lived their faith. Today, this is not the case. In the United States, the fastest-growing group is NONE. We are shifting from Christendom to an Apostolic mission. Therefore, we need to shift to an Apostolic Mission – we are the missionaries – and actively share our faith, inviting others to join us in celebration. We are a Eucharistic community. Every time we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus shares with us His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity for our nourishment, and then we are sent out to proclaim the Good News. As we reflect on these readings, let us pray for those preparing to receive the Sacraments and for one another.
The Mass: As part of our Lenten journey, we were going through the Mass. We completed the Introductory Rite and moved to the Liturgy of the Word or Storytelling. When we gather at a friend’s home for a meal, we always begin with conversation, telling our stories. At Mass, after the rites of gathering, we sit down and listen as readings from the Word of God are proclaimed. They are the stories of God’s people. On Sundays, there are three readings and a psalm. Over a three-year cycle, we cover the entire Bible. “…the word of God unceasingly calls to mind and extends the economy of salvation, which achieves its fullest expression in the Liturgy” (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass). We will look at this session in detail next Sunday.