Church of the
Annunciation

7580 Clinton Street
Elma, New York 14059

716.683.5254

March 26, 2017

Fourth Sunday of Lent

John, the evangelist, does not use the word “miracle.” He speaks of the “signs” Jesus performs. A miracle conveys a sense of something extraordinary, above the laws of nature, beyond our ability and comprehension. A sign engages us and brings about insight and understanding. Jesus heals the blind man at the Pool of Siloam and slowly helps him to come to insight regarding the person of Jesus himself and his mission. The account unfolds like a play with actors: Jesus, blind man, onlookers, parents, Pharisees (lay religious leaders) and us the audience or listeners. While the blind man (now able to see physically) comes to see Jesus first as just a man, then a prophet, one from God, Son of Man and Lord; the Pharisees (able to see but spiritually blind) refuse to accept the healing as a sign from God. They impugn the integrity of the blind man, suggest moral failure as the cause of the affliction and accuse Jesus of doing work on the Sabbath. Ironically, “insight” comes from listening. "Hearing is believing." During Lent we look within to identify what hinders and obstructs our embrace of the Gospel and we listen attentively to the living word of God proclaimed in the assembly in order to enter into the Pascal Mystery, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are getting ready to renew our baptismal promises at Easter. It can be for us, like the blind man, “enlightenment.”  

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Fifth Sunday of Lent

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