Fourth Sunday of Lent (3/19/2023)

Write an expository homily for the Fourt Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, using these scripture passages: 1 Samuel 16:1b 6-7,10-13a; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 ; while cross-referencing the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes throughout. 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather together on this Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, we are reminded that even in the midst of our Lenten penance, we have reason to rejoice. The readings today invite us to look beyond appearances and to recognize the hidden beauty and goodness that lies within us and in others.

In the first reading, we hear about the anointing of David as the new king of Israel. Samuel was sent by God to anoint the one who would replace Saul as king, and when he saw David, he initially thought he was too young and insignificant to be the chosen one. But God reminded Samuel that "man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). This passage teaches us that God does not judge us by our external appearance, but rather by the purity of our hearts.

In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts us to "live as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8) and to expose the works of darkness. He reminds us that as baptized Christians, we are called to live according to the light of Christ and to reject the deeds of darkness. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms this, stating that "The baptized have become 'light in the Lord' (Ephesians 5:8); they have been made 'sons of light' (John 12:36)" (CCC 1216).

In the Gospel reading, we hear about the healing of the man born blind. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned, the man or his parents, to cause his blindness. But Jesus tells them that it was not because of sin, but so "that the works of God might be made visible through him" (John 9:3). This passage teaches us that even in the midst of suffering and adversity, God can use our situation to bring about His glory and His purposes.

The Fathers of the Church, such as St. Augustine, saw the blind man in this story as a symbol of all of us who are blind to the truth of God's love and grace. It is only through the light of Christ that we can see and understand the truth. Recent popes, such as Pope Francis, have also emphasized the importance of seeing beyond appearances and recognizing the dignity of every human person, especially the marginalized and vulnerable.

As we continue on our Lenten journey, we are called to look beyond appearances and to see the hidden beauty and goodness in ourselves and in others. We are called to live as children of the light, rejecting the works of darkness and embracing the light of Christ. And we are called to trust in God's plan for our lives, even in the midst of suffering and adversity.

In conclusion, let us pray that we may have the eyes to see beyond appearances and to recognize the beauty and goodness that lies within us and in others. May we draw inspiration from the readings today and the teachings of the Fathers of the Church, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the writings of recent popes. And may the grace of God, made available to us through Jesus Christ, sustain us on our journey towards eternal life. Amen.

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