Fourth Sunday of Lent -- Laetare Sunday

A walk on Douglass Avenue

You were once darkness, 

but now you are light in the Lord.

There are many stories in the Old Testament where God’s presence is felt, but he makes no appearance. Joseph the Patriarch, for instance, was clearly guided by God into Egypt, slavery, prison, freedom and to a seat beside the Pharaoh. But God neither appears to nor speaks with Joseph, as he did with Adam, Noah, and Abraham. His influence is only through Joseph’s dreams. Likewise, God never appears to David, Tobit, or Esther.

Today’s gospel story is like those Old Testament stories; Jesus makes an appearance but this story is about a blind man who has seen the light. He is a typical Christian who must deal with the consequences of his conversion without the overt presence of Jesus. He is guided by the Holy Spirit, but even that presence is subtle.

What he sees with his new vision: 

•  his former friends don’t rejoice with him. They are not filled with awe at the goodness of God’s mercy to him. They’re not eager to hear his testimony about Jesus. He is simply a curiosity to them.
• The religious authorities have no clue how he came to see. Although healing is the province of God, they can’t figure it out.
•  His own parents distance themselves from him. Although they admit he is their son, they disown him when they say, “He is of age. Ask him.” Clearly they’re loyalties are with the suspicious authorities.

But he also finds some wonderful things with his new vision:

• \ He finds the courage to stand his ground as an adult before the authorities. He cannot deny what he knows, that Jesus healed him.
• Finally, he sees Jesus, who appears at the end of the story; and he worships him.

The cycle A readings of Lent, read every third year, are especially addressed to the catechumens preparing for Baptism. On this Fourth Sunday of Lent we reflect on the twin gifts of light and sight. The reading from the First Book of Samuel teaches us:

Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the Lord looks into the heart.

The baptized Christian will also see as God sees, and what we see will not always be pretty. We will see that some forms of human justice are neither just nor fair; they are senseless and cruel. We will see masses of people flocking to admire what is cheap and tawdry.

But, seeing as God sees, we will admire what the world despises. We will see the image of God even on death row. We will feel the courage of God moving us to say what no one dares to say. We will feel the Spirit of God leading us to penance and we will gladly follow. 
Saint Francis of Assisi wrote toward to the end of his life:

A walk on Douglass Avenue

This is how God inspired me, Brother Francis, to embark upon a life of penance. When I was in sin, the sight of lepers nauseated me beyond measure; but then God himself led me into their company, and I had pity on them. When I had once become acquainted with them, what had previously nauseated me became a source of spiritual and physical consolation for me. After that I did not wait long before leaving the world.