Homilies | Father Nathan

Father Nathan | Homily

4th Sunday of Lent

Todays Readings:

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

Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4,5,6(1)

The Lord is my Shepard: there is nothing I shall want

Second Reading — Ephesians 5: 8-14

Gospel Reading — John 9: 1-41

God does good — God Does Good Alone

My dear people todays gospel [John 9:1-41] is so relevant today. As we are all into the tension of pandemic coronavirus, the whole globe is in tension, bareness and perplexity.

I do witness that emptiness among all of us. In this situation the gospel of today bestows tremendous meaning for our life.

The question of human suffering was a big problem in biblical times. It’s also the same case now as well. It’s a big problem now.

Old Testament View

An Old Testament view saw a connection between suffering and sin. Suffering was seen as God’s punishment for sin.

Every time people saw suffering it served as a stark reminder to them of this side of God. But this left them with a very negative image of God. It made God out to be spiteful and vindictive. And, by and large, this was the view that prevailed.

The Story of the Blind Man

Hence, when the apostles saw the blind man they immediately concluded that his blindness was the result of sin. But there still remained the problem: for whose sin was he suffering – his own or his parents?

So, hoping that Jesus would solve the problem for them, they asked him,

‘why was this man born blind? Who sinned? Was it the man himself or his parents?

Jesus said

‘NEITHER THIS MAN NOR HIS PARENTS SINNED: IT IS SO THAT THE WORKS OF God might MADE VISIBLE THROUGH HIM.”

Thus he rejected the connection between suffering and sin. The man’s blindness was not a punishment from God. GOD DOES NOT DO EVIL. GOD DOES GOOD, GOOD ALONE.

Jesus proceeded and went on to heal him. So the man’s blindness did reveal something about what is like. It shows God’s compassion in the face of human suffering. The disciples may not have found Jesus answer fully satisfying. But it was the perfect answer to the blind man. Talking about a problem will never solve it. Only action will.

Evil is the reality. The best response is to do good. What that man needed was not a lecture on the origins of sin or evil but just that healing touch of God.

Thus, what was a problem for the apostles became the opportunity for Jesus – an opportunity to do the work of God. To show what God is really like, to show the mercy and love of God and to show the real face of God.

My dear people, as we are in this tense and chaotic situation, let us remember, it’s the time to look for the face of God.

When we witness the suffering and when we see the suffering of others it’s an opportunity for us too – an opportunity to show the care, the love and the hope.

We shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that we can do, or any kindness that we can show, to any human being, let us do it now.

We have greatest opportunity to exercise that.  To be people of hope, to be kind, to be caring, to be loving ….. It’s the time, remembering

God is good

God will only do good to His people

He will never ever abandon his people

Amen…

Stay safe and be reassured that God is with you in this time of crisis and isolation!

Stay connected to others during this time through phone, email and social media.

Have a Blessed Week,

Fr. Nathan