March 19, 2023

Sister Evangeline Salazar, OSB shares a reflection on the scripture readings: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Hello darkness

my old friend.

Remember THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE

by Simon and Garfunkel?

It recalls

today’s gospel.

As children

we played Blind Man’s Bluff.

One person was chosen

to pretend he/she was blind.

This person was to tag another person

without opening their eyes.

Of course,

the game could last all night

because everyone moved out of the way

when this person came near.

We are born people of the light.

We were not born into darkness.

Jesus met a blind man

and opened his eyes

and he was able to see.

What did he see

that the Pharisees could not see?

What can we see

that maybe others can’t see?

For those of us

who remember working in parishes

during the fourth Sunday of Lent

the people preparing for baptism

are to scrutinize their lives.

The Catechumens are to

scrutinize

to learn what to save

and what to let go.

To bring to light

the things that are important

and discard what is not.

In an early episode of THE CHOSEN

Jesus sends His disciples

to preach and work miracles.

They are dumfounded.

“How are we to do this?” they ask.

They are in total darkness

however, they go.

Without a second change of clothes,

no money and no food.

As they return from this mission

they are excited and eager

to recount their success.

By accepting their mission

they moved from darkness to the light.

They begin to see who Jesus really is.

The blind man in the Gospel

lived in darkness.

Jesus touched him

and the blind man saw the light.

He understood

Jesus was the Son of God

and he fell on his knees

and worshiped Him.

The catechumens

are preparing for baptism.

We are the baptized.

We have been given the light.

The choice remains.

To remain in darkness

or live in the light.