Here is the readings for today’s Mass which is the fourth Sunday of Lent.
1st Reading:1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
2nd Reading: Eph 5:8-14
Gospel: Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
For the full readings click here
Today at Mass Father gave an excellent homily on the readings for today. He discussed the common topics of darkness and light. He taught us some interesting information about the Koine Greek usage of words in one of the readings. I believe it was the Gospel. It was a short but informative homily. Tonight I might do some research on this.
I do want to point out the Gospel for another reason. The Gospel today shows us that Jesus is more than willing to use material, such as the mud, to heal the blind man. You might ask why did Jesus use mud to do something that he could have done without it. Perhaps it points back to our origins of our creation from dust or perhaps this is just the way God chooses to work.
The ancient heresy that Irenaeus refuted, Gnosticism, failed to comprehend this. The Gnostics considered matter evil. Only the spiritual was good. I wonder what they would have thought about Jesus using mud to heal someone.
Many today still carry on this remnant of the Gnostic heresy. For all practical purposes, many reject any physical or real effects of the Sacraments. Many think Baptism is symbolic and does not regenerate… contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Many consider the Eucharist or communion purely symbolic… contrary to the word of God. Many fail to see that God has chosen to work through material means of his choosing as a way of applying his Graces. For these only the spirtual things ”matter”!
The Catholic Church considers these seven gifts as Sacraments of Faith. Please remember that God does not hate matter… He created it! God is the creator and as such, he uses his creation in ways that truly glorify His name!
