Dear friends,
Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent, common called Laetare Sunday. We are invited to rejoice because our salvation is nearer than ever. The Lord who took upon him our brokenness is winning over the powers of darkness.
One question though, how can one rejoice as we face the challenges of the Coronavirus outbreak? Sure. We must rejoice because it is exactly at this moment that the Lord opens the eyes of our hearts to discover Him at work on our behalf. He invites us to have courage and stand up in faith. Like the blind young man in today’s gospel, fear can blind us especially at this very difficult time. Like many who were following Jesus and who questioned the cause of the young man’s blindness, we can be driven by the same question and ask the Lord: “Who sinned so that we may experience such a pandemic?” And the Lord’s answer is: “Nobody.” Jesus does not accuse anybody to make them guilty. Rather, Ha points to the power of God on which we are to rely. While we acknowledge our sinfulness, we are invited to gaze upon the face of the Lord and cry out to Him for help.
Today’s Sunday is therefore a recommendation to turn towards Jesus and answer to the very same question He asks to the blind young man: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” This is because faith is trusting in God in everything, knowing that He who did not spare His son for our sake will always be with us. Let us, like the today’s blind man, cry out to Him and say: “I do believe, Lord,” for He will make of us partakers in His victory.
Let’s continue to pray for one another, for our parish family and for the world.
Fr. Emery