Homily Fourth Tuesday of Lent (John 5:1-16) “Spiritual Wounds Can Cripple Us”
Homily Fourth Tuesday of Lent (John 5:1-16) “Spiritual Wounds Can Cripple Us”
The healing of the lame man is one of the seven signs Jesus performs in the Gospel of John. The signs of Jesus in this gospel are deliberately not called miracles. Why is that the case we might ask?
A miracle in the synoptic gospels is meant to impress those who experience it. Usually, they were met with shock and awe. We might say they affirmed the divinity of Christ.
The signs in the Gospel of John were meant to punctuate the teaching of Jesus. The definition of a sign is that it is an object or an action that points to a meaning beyond itself. When Jesus helped the lame man to walk it was meant to be a message to those who looked on.
The people who watched this and questioned it were the religious authorities. After Jesus healed the blind man these “leaders” began to question what he had done. Also, they thought to discredit him by getting into an argument with him over religious law. The religious leaders were more worried about losing prestige then they were about learning anything about Jesus.
The whole argument for those who attacked our Lord was about who had power over the people. Much of life can be about who has influence. Sometimes the loudest voice in the room is the one who carries the day even though that voice may be full of malice.
The people who were lame were those who chose not to be happy about the who could walk after being unable to do so. Sometimes we can fail to share in others good fortune. We can be skeptical rather than to be uplifted by someone who seems to have been transformed by God.
Reflection Questions:
- Am I suspicious when someone seems to have made changes for the better in their life? What might hold me back from embracing another’s healing?
- What religious questions am I hung up about? Do unimportant rules distract me from the love of God?
Dear Parishioners,
We now have permission to take asbestos out of our old rectory. This means we can move ahead with the demolition. If you would like any of the fixtures mentioned in last Sunday’s bulletin, please contact our office. Around April 1st we will begin abatement.
Remember that we will be having extra devotions tomorrow. In the morning we will be having exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass. At 5 p.m. we will have the opportunity for Reconciliation and at 5:30 we will be praying the stations of the cross in the church.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark