This week's readings Week of Mar. 10 - 16 Sunday, March 10, 2002 Reading I: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Reading II: Ephesians 5:8-14 Gospel: John 9:1-41 Monday, March 11, 2002 Reading I: Isaiah 65:17-21 Gospel: John 4:43-54 Tuesday, March 12, 2002 Reading I: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 Gospel: John 5:1-16 Wednesday, March 13, 2002 Reading I: Isaiah 49:8-15 Gospel: John 5:17-30 Thursday, March 14, 2002 Reading I: Exodus 32:7-14 Gospel: John 5:31-47 Friday, March 15, 2002 Reading I: Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 Gospel: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Saturday, March 16, 2002 Reading I: Jeremiah 11:18-20 Gospel: John 7:40-53 Pope's Prayer Intentions March General Intention That the Gospel of love may be the basis of our social programs: That the Gospel of love may manifestly and consistently be the basis of all our Catholic social programs. March Mission Intention Gospel-inspired reconciliation and solidarity among the people of Africa: That the people of Africa may embrace Gospel truth and love, and promote reconciliation and solidarity.

Give God the praise:

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

The lengthy Gospel story of the man born blind who was healed by the touch of Jesus is really the story of our own journey from woundedness to wholeness, from sinfulness to holiness, from blindness to the light of Christ.

The question of whose sin is to blame for the man's blindness is easily dismissed by Jesus. Physical blindness is not a punishment for sin, but in this case Jesus recognizes that the situation can be used to shed light upon the mystery of God's love and mercy, "so that the works of God might be made visible through him."

Blindness as a metaphor for what is wrong with the world and with people's attitude toward God and one another is an apt one. The man born blind is wounded, in the sense that he is not physically whole. So does our own sin wound us, more than we often realize. It is God who touches us with his healing mercy, to free us from the wounds that cause us pain and suffering, and to restore to us the wholeness that is part of his plan for our lives.

Although Jesus correctly teaches that the man's blindness is not due to sin, we know that our own sin does blind us to God's will, to our need for one another, to our call as members of the human family to love one another, and even blinds us to our very need for healing. Jesus removes the blindness that hinders us from love, and in so doing makes it easier for us to progress towards holiness, our divine call.

Readings for Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 10) 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41

Being spiritually blind darkens our spirit, and prevents us from enjoying the beauty and glory of the life of God and his creation which he has given into our care. Jesus opens our eyes and floods all our being with his light, the light of Christ which we celebrate as God pours out his mercy upon us.

Saint Paul teaches that "you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." Just as Jesus in another place tells us, his disciples, that we are "the light of the world," so too he removes the darkness from our eyes and hearts, from our minds and souls, and fills them with his own wonderful marvelous light.

The shepherd's psalm, so beautifully written as a song praising the Lord for his care, reminds us that when the Lord is at our side we need fear no evil, even though the valley in which we walk -- our own culture and age, at times -- is dark indeed. With his rod and staff the Lord gives us courage, and even lights the way for us through dark times.

As the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David when Samuel anointed him to become king of Israel, as the Spirit hovered over Jesus at his baptism, as the Spirit comes upon us at baptism and confirmation in our life as disciples in the Church, and as the Spirit of Jesus worked through the hands and words of Jesus, so does that Spirit of life and light work every day in our lives.

"He opened my eyes," cried the blind man made whole, filled with the light of Christ. "Give God the praise," retorted those still held blind by sin who could not recognize that Jesus truly is God. And yet those who allow Jesus to open their eyes and hearts to see and love God do exactly that: give God the praise!

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.