Community Word: Trusting and obeying God lead us to a life of holiness.
Theme: We live a life of holiness when we follow Jesus who is the Light of the world.
Promise: “Awake and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light,” (Ep 5:24b).
Reflection:
“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life,” (cf. Jn 8:12). On the 4th Sunday of Lent, Jesus is showing us that He gives light to those who are in darkness by healing a man who was blind from birth, to see. This miracle is a metaphor about the truth that it is Jesus’ saving mission to enable man to see God through the light of faith.
Like the Pharisees, there are still people who are in the darkness of sin, who remain spiritually blind, who lack the sight of faith and who are unable to recognize God’s presence and His works. Some do not believe in the Son of Man. As the sight of the blind man was restored, he came to believe and worship the Lord. In John 3:20, it says: “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed,” (Jn 3:20). Pride and arrogance make people blind to the truth. Sin cuts off one’s spiritual awareness in following Christ. A Christian can lose the power of the Holy Spirit, when he gives sin a chance and he then becomes spiritually blind.
Our eyes of faith have to be opened so that we may be led through the path of holiness and gain eternal life. Thus, we need to testify to Christ as our Light. Visible works must be done so that faith of unbelievers will be realized and those who are still struggling with their belief may be given the confidence to be stronger in their faith. Just as the former blind man testified to the healing of Christ, we too must testify to Jesus as the Giver of light and sight. Jesus may have restored the sight of the blind man, but more than that, He gave him the opportunity to recognize that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Thus, he declared, “I do believe, Lord,” (Jn 9:38).
During His ministry, Jesus reveals who He is, by making Himself known by the works of God, so that man may know God’s power and to let man see that He is the Son of God. In last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus revealed His identity to the Samaritan woman at the well about the coming Messiah. He said, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you,” (Jn 4:26). In this Sunday’s gospel, He affirmed Himself to the healed blind man, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he,” (Jn 9:37).
Jesus once told His disciples, “You are the light of the world … your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father,” (Mt. 5:14, 16). Our light is our faith expressed in good deeds. Let us continue to deepen our faith in God, love and serve Him through the people we meet. Let us show them a shining example of a life of faith through our own life witnessing so that we may also lead them closer to God.
As St. Paul exhorts us through his letter to the Ephesians, “You were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,” (Ep 5:8), he also assures us of this promise, “Awake and arise from the dead and Christ will give you light,” (Ep 5:24b).
Prayer:
Thank you Lord for healing me of my spiritual blindness and opening my eyes of faith. Help me that my spiritual eyes remain open so I may see Your face in every person I meet. Lord, continue to give me the courage and strength to always witness to our faith to everyone and to all people, including my enemies, whom I pray for. Father, thank You for sharing Your eternal light upon me. Enable me to let this light shine before men and women for Your greater glory. Amen.
Reflection Guide Questions:
- How different have you become spiritually after receiving Jesus in your heart? Has your faith deepened because of this?
- Despite your dark past, and after receiving the Holy Spirit, can your circle of influence say “you are a changed person?” Like the blind man, can you stand for the truth?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
March 19, 2023 (Sun) – 1Sm 16:1,6-7,10-13/ Ps 23:1-3,3-4,5,6/ Eph 5:8-14/ Jn 9:1-41
March 20, 2023 (Mon – 2 Sm 7:4-5, 12-14, 16/ Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29/ Rom 4:13:16-18, 22/ Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24
March 21, 2023 (Tue) – Ez 47:1-9, 12/ Ps 46:2-6, 8, 9/ Jn 5:1-16
March 22, 2023 (Wed) – Is 49:8-15/ Ps 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18/ Jn 5:17-30
March 23, 2023 (Thu) – Ex 32:7-14/ Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23/ Jn 5:31-47
March 24, 2023 (Fri) – Wis 2:1,12-22/ Ps 34:17-18,19-20,21,23/ Jn 7:1,2,10,25-30
March 25, 2020 (Sat) – Is 7:10-14, 8:10/ Ps 40:7-11/ Heb 10:4-10/ Lk 1:26-38
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
