Sunday, March 22, 2009

Homily – March 22, 2009 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

In our first reading today we heard about the selection and anointing of David, the shepherd boy, as King of Israel. The Lord knew who he wanted to be anointed, and he was anointed with oil as king! The same Lord truly selected each one of us and anointed us first at our Baptism – as a sign of our membership in the priestly, kingly, prophetic People of God.

The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David to help him carry out his duties. The same Spirit of the Lord rushed upon us on the day of our Confirmation – empowering us for active life as a Catholic Christian.

On the day of his anointing, no doubt King David saw the light of God's glory! On the day of our baptism we are presented with a lighted candle to represent the spiritual light of Christ that is now within us.

Today's gospel passage is about Jesus' curing of the blind man. This is a very important thing to consider on this 4th Sunday of Lent. To be able to "see the spiritual realities as they unfold once again from Palm Sunday, through Holy Thursday, Good Friday into Easter Sunday;" TO REALLY SEE what is going on and to understand it – sometimes we need to be touched by God's special grace – so that we can get fully into it; so that we can see the light! We too, along with the blind man of the gospel passage – need to see the reality of God's amazing love and forgiveness for what they really are – as exemplified when Jesus hung on the Cross for our salvation!

We read earlier in Lent that Jesus demonstrated equal power over sin and sickness (he cured the paralytic and forgave his sins at the same time). It was just as easy for him to cure illness and to forgive sin. Next Sunday we will concentrate on the second part of this: as we get ready for our Lenten Penance Service. Today, however, we wish to concentrate on the first part: Jesus' power and intention to heal all those who come to him with faith, with hope, with charity in their hearts – the desire to help all brothers and sisters in need! God the Father always hears the prayers of Jesus his Son. God always hears the prayers of those who selflessly pray in faith. God always answers our prayers in varying degrees of immediacy! We will get the fullness of the answer in the way, and the time, that God knows is truly best for us and for everyone else involved in the healing.

Jesus asked the man AFTER he healed him…"Do you believe that I am the Son of Man?" The man said: "Yes, Lord, I do believe!

And so now I ask you BEFORE your anointing – you who are to be anointed – do you believe in the Son of God, Jesus: Savior, Healer?
DO YOU BELIEVE?


 


 

We will now have the Anointing Service using the Oil of Sick that was blessed by the bishop at last year's Chrism Mass during Holy Week.

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