Fourth Sunday in Lent - A – March 30, 2014

The Gift of Sight

How dependent are you on your sight? The sense of sight is one we can easily take for granted, yet, is one we would really miss if it were taken from us. Imagine how a blind person must feel if he or she receives sight. That gift would only be second to the gift of faith.

BLOG LINK Is outrage the new addiction?

MP3 PODCAST In this week’s audio podcast, we discuss why people are skeptical of miracles. Why don’t people believe? Is it fear or pride, cynicism or laziness?

FIRST READING In the reading from First Samuel, God directed the prophet-judge to anoint a new king. The emphasis here is on God’s initiative. He measures the human heart. He is the one who works his will for the good of all.

PSALM Psalm 23 spoke to an utter dependance upon the Lord. He is my shepherd and he cares for me, even through the “valley of the shadow of death.” He is Lord on the pilgrim’s journey SECOND READING In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul urged the faithful to “walk in the light,” to live a private life that was as moral as the public persona that Christianity demanded.

GOSPEL In the second narrative of John’s great gospel trilogy, a blind man was cured by Jesus, only to be questioned and rejected by family, neighbors, and the leadership of his synagogue. John used the controversy to highlight the connection between physical sight and spiritual sight. In the end, the man received both.

CHILDREN'S READINGS In the First Reading, Sara saw a new sight in the forest that took her breathe away. In the Gospel Reading, Jake knew what sight meant to a blind person: freedom!

CATECHISM LINK In the Catechism Link, we discuss faith in the Church, with its four marks and three images.

FAMILY ACTIVITY Play a variation of the game “Marco Polo.” Blind fold a family member and have that person “Find Jesus” in the midst of others speaking nonsense phrases.