Homily on the 4th Sunday of Lent, 19 March 2023
Almost exactly one year ago I was requested to anoint an elderly woman who just had a stroke and was fighting for her life in the ICU. When I approached her bed I saw how serious her condition was: unable to move, unable to speak, and unable to breathe on her own. The doctors said that even a brain surgery would not be recommended as the blood clot was too deep, and the medication they were prescribing could only prolong her life. But there was no assurance she can get cured. And so without delay I administered to her the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and assured her of my prayers as I tried to whisper to her all the words of encouragement I could think of. Afterwards when I had a chance to talk with her sons and daughters I recommended that they grab the opportunity to take turns in spending time to have a heart to heart talk with her. I encouraged them to personally say their own “Thank You’s” and their own “Sorry’s” and whatever they would want to say, just in case the worst and the unexpected would happen.
Fast forward… after one year, that woman is still very much alive until today. At that time when the doctors thought that she would already go any time, she was actually beginning to heal. And after several days she got discharged from the ICU, then eventually from the hospital. At home her family took good care of her despite their limited means and resources. They tried to provide her with everything she needed for her recovery, including online Masses and Holy Communion. Gradually she was able to move once again her fingers, her hands, her feet, and her legs. She was able to sit on her bed and eat solid food again. Now she can say a few words, sit on a wheel chair, eat at table together with her family and even stand and walk for a few steps. Isn’t this a miracle? Isn’t Jesus so much alive even today healing the sick through the sacraments?
Today we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Lent. In the gospel story we just heard, Jesus is revealed to us as an incredible healer who is able to open the eyes of a man born blind. But it also presents the dramatic story of how the blind man was able to receive the gift of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, in contrast with the Pharisees who, though able to see, chose to remain in their own spiritual blindness. They not only refused to believe in Jesus but even accused him of having violated the Sabbath. They have already come face-to-face with Light itself yet they preferred to stay in the darkness of their own sinful pride and self-absorbed attitude.
It is very interesting to notice how the blind man was finally able to see the light after having lived all his life in total darkness. Jesus smeared his eyes with mud and sent him to wash at the pool of Siloam. John carefully notes for his readers the name “Siloam” which means “Sent.” When he did exactly what Jesus told him he was amazingly able to see with his eyes for the very first time in his life. Afterwards when he met again face to face with Jesus, the true Light of the world, he came forward, believed in him and bowed down in worship. And his life was never the same again.
If you recall last Sunday we heard the wonderful story of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at Jacob’s well Like Jesus who came to have a drink, the woman was also thirsty. But her thirst was a human thirst for genuine love, having had five husbands in a row. Jesus’ real thirst, however, was a divine thirst for deep faith among the people. This part of the story actually sounds better in Tagalog: Ang babae uhaw sa tubig ng tunay na pag-ibig. Si Hesus naman ay uhaw sa tubig ng malalim na pananalig. Consequently after her heart-to-heart conversation with Jesus she felt her heart was finally full, and she believed in him as the Messiah.
These two gospel stories narrated to us by John are so filled with signs and symbols that point not only to Jesus as the living water and the light of the world but also to the Church’s Sacraments today esp. the Sacrament of Baptism. In this Mass we cannot but thank God for the gift of our Catholic faith. For through the waters of Baptism we have been cleansed of all our sins, and have received new life in Christ as sons and daughters of God. Moreover through the profession of our faith in Christ, risen from the dead, the darkness of our sinfulness has finally been dispelled, and we now live as children of the light. We thank God also for the other Sacraments by which we are not only nourished, healed and empowered but also transformed more and more into the image and likeness of Christ.
At this point it is important for us to know that when we come to church on Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday three weeks from now we shall all renew our baptismal promises with lighted candles in hand, after which we shall receive the sprinkling of holy water from the priest who represents Christ. May our Eucharist today help us to prepare ourselves more seriously and spiritually for the celebration of Easter. Through our Lenten observance of prayer, penance and almsgiving may we all experience being one with Jesus in his passion and death, and soon also share in the glory of his resurrection. GiGsss!
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