Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 30, 2014

Written by Fr. Fitz Thursday, 27 March 2014 11:13

Lent is a journey out of darkness and blindness towards the Light...

Today's long Gospel tells the story of the man born blind. In some ways it is our story, yours and mine. Just as an automobile has a blind spot, so too do we. It just differs from person to person.

Those who fail to see undocumented migrants as human beings are blind.

Those  who deny any possibility of global warming are blind.

Those who would shut down the government to bolster their ideology are blind.

Those who see everything as either black or white, never acknowledging grey are blind.

Those who can see all the flaws in their neighbor but never glimpse their own are blind.

Those who watch MSNBC and think ALL the truth is there, as well as those who watch FOX News and think ALL the truth is there are blind.

Those who claim we are "exceptional" possess a blindness that is cloaked by arrogance.

We all have blind spots and the GREATEST blindness is our unwillingness to admit, and to own our own blindness!  Putting all the dark>>over THERE, never HERE. This is a kind of darkness that leads to name calling and even in its worst extremes leads us to dispise other religions, races, and any people that are different from us.

Our blindness can become a perpetual sleep walking with our eyes shut as we stumble along an unmarked path. That is why Saint Paul prods us in the Second Reading today to "Wake Up!" "Awake O Sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light!" Eph. 5:14

Breakfast Question: Where is my blind spot?

Personal Reflection: If I cannot answer the above breakfast question, then I might pray:

"I admit O Lord ;that I am blind, so blind I cannot even recognise my blind spots. As I journey towards the Easter Light, open my eyes as you did for the blind man. Wake me up that I might arise from my self imposed slumber! Lord! That I might see!"