4th Sunday Of Lent – Year A - Theme: "From Blindness To Light: Let Christ Open Your Eyes” Series

4th Sunday of Lent – Year A

Theme: “From Blindness to Light: Let Christ Open Your Eyes”

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First Reading: 1st Samuel 16:1b,6-7,10-13a

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23:1–3a, 3b–4, 5,6

Second Reading: St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians 5:8-14

Gospel: John 9:1-41

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1. Introduction

Brothers and sisters,

There is a difference between looking and seeing.

We look at people every day — but do we really see them?

We look at our spouse — but do we understand their heart?

We look at our children — but do we see their struggles?

We look at ourselves in the mirror — but do we see our soul?

Today’s Gospel from John 9 is not just about a blind man receiving sight. It is about us. It is about spiritual blindness.

The central theme today is clear:

God does not see as man sees. God sees the heart. And Christ comes to open our eyes.

This Sunday, traditionally called Laetare Sunday, is a Sunday of joy in the middle of Lent. Why joy? Because light is breaking into darkness.

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2. The Cry of the Human Heart

What is the hidden cry of people today?

• “Why don’t people understand me?”

• “Why does God allow suffering?”

• “Why am I not seen?”

• “Why do I feel spiritually dry?”

• “Why do I feel lost?”

We live in a world flooded with information — yet blind to truth.

We scroll endlessly — but cannot see meaning.

We judge quickly — but cannot see hearts.

We have eyes — but do not perceive God’s action.

The deeper pain is this:

We are afraid to see ourselves as we truly are.

The blind man in today’s Gospel knew he was blind.

The Pharisees did not.

And that makes all the difference.

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3. The Message of Today’s Readings

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(1) First Reading – 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6–7, 10–13a

Context

The prophet Samuel is sent to anoint a new king. Saul has failed. God chooses David.

When Samuel sees Eliab, tall and strong, he thinks: “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed.”

But God says:

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

Key Insight

God chooses differently.

David was the youngest. Forgotten. Overlooked. Not even invited.

Yet he becomes the greatest king of Israel.

Connection to Christ

David prefigures Christ.

Jesus too was:

• Not impressive in appearance

• Rejected

• Overlooked

As St. Augustine said:

“God does not choose the worthy; He makes worthy those He chooses.”

God sees what others miss.

And today, God sees you — not as others see you — but as you truly are.

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(2) Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

This is not a sentimental psalm. It is a declaration of trust in darkness.

“Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death…”

Notice: it does not say if — it says even though.

This psalm is the prayer of the Church in suffering.

Christ is the Good Shepherd who:

• Guides

• Protects

• Feeds

• Restores

The blind man of the Gospel was led physically. But spiritually, he was led by the Shepherd.

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(3) Second Reading – Ephesians 5:8–14

St. Paul says:

“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”

Not “in darkness.”

You were darkness.

Sin does not just affect us — it darkens us.

But Baptism brings illumination.

In the early Church, Baptism was called photismos — enlightenment.

As St. John Chrysostom said:

“The baptized person becomes light — not by nature — but by grace.”

Paul commands:

• Live as children of light.

• Expose works of darkness.

• Awake, O sleeper!

Lent is an awakening.

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(4) Gospel – John 9:1–41

This is one of the most dramatic chapters in the Bible.

Central Revelation

Jesus says:

“I am the light of the world.”

He does not merely give light. He is Light.

The man was born blind. The disciples ask:

“Who sinned?”

We always look for blame.

But Jesus shifts the focus:

“It is so that the works of God might be made visible.”

Then He spits on the ground, makes clay, anoints his eyes, and sends him to wash in Siloam.

Why clay?

Because in Genesis, God formed man from clay.

Jesus is re-creating this man.

The Irony

The blind man sees progressively:

• First: “The man called Jesus”

• Then: “He is a prophet”

• Finally: “Lord, I believe.”

The Pharisees regress:

• They question

• They mock

• They expel him

• They claim to see

Spiritual blindness is worse than physical blindness.

As St. Gregory the Great said:

“The blind man saw, but those who claimed sight were blinded by pride.”