FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
A showcase for God’s work


FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
People see appearances, but God looks into the heart
THE PROPHEt SAMUEL is on the lookout for a king. If you were on a mission from God, in search of a would-be leader, what criteria would you use? Samuel’s instructions are pretty clear, in some respects; he need look no further than Jesse’s house, among a limited number of sons. But after that, the details get cloudy. Jesse, as it happens, has a generous supply of sons, and only one of them is the chosen one of God.

The Lord prompts Samuel not to be distracted by appearance, height, or other human considerations. This includes birthright, intelligence, and charisma. What criteria are left? The answer, for God watchers, is simple: surprise. Find the least likely fellow in the picture and that is the next king of Israel, for sure.

SECOND READING: Ephesians 5:8-14
Light produces every kind of goodness
I RAN INTO A TABLE the other night, in my own apartment. Being reluctant to turn on the light, I stumbled in familiar territory. But when one is half-asleep, the very idea of light is threatening to that comfortable drowsy state.

Paul speaks to the sleeper in all of us: Christians, the light is available to us, so use it. People who do not know Christ might flail around helplessly, making wild life choices, having no criteria for discernment. But we, who believe, do. Still, we may choose to leave the light off, enjoying the sleepy environment of darkness and the luxury of not seeing clearly where our steps are taking us. This denial by no means lessens the consequences of our blindness, or the pain of the eventual impact.

GOSPEL: John 9:1-41
“How were your eyes opened?”
THE STORY OF THE MAN born blind is almost comedy. On the one hand, the disciples are clamoring at Jesus, “Whose fault is it that this man is blind?” On the other hand, the enemies of Jesus are asking, “Whose fault is it that this blind man now can see?” The passage is a series of questions, with nobody willing to accept the answers they are given. There is an anthill of activity, people running around excitedly, everybody in a panic over this dreadful miracle. If it were not scripture, it would be slapstick.

The punch line, of course, is that we are all born blind, and like the man in the story we are all offered sight through the power of Christ. But all of the “blind” in the passage—disciples, neighbors, Pharisees, Jewish authorities, and family members—reject the clear vision that Jesus presents in this fifth sign of John’s gospel. Only the man who was once physically blind is able to perceive it, another twist in the irony. As Jesus says, this man was born blind to be a showcase for God’s work. Depending on our choices, the same could be said of us.

Questions for Reflection
    • If God were to choose a leader in your community, based on the criterion of surprise, who would the candidates be? How would you feel about such leadership?
    • What light, available to you, do you fail to make use of?
    • What is the greatest blindness you face? How does Jesus, the light of the world, alleviate this darkness?

Action Response
Take the Pharisees’ question to prayer with you: “Since it was your eyes he opened, what do you have to say about him?” Ask it of yourself throughout the week and listen for the continuing testimony from within.


These meditations reprinted with permission from God's Word Is Alive: Reflections on the Lectionary Readings for Sundays and Holydays by Alice Camille, For more information on the book or to order, visit the ACTA Publications website or call 800-397-2282.