Deacon Kevin Gingras
March 15, 2026
4th Sunday in Lent
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031526.cfm
1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
How is Lent going for you? Are you encountering Christ more deeply this Lent? If not, then thank God that we still have time! There have been a lot of “encounters with Christ” lately in the Gospels. The women at the well, the man born blind, next week we will hear about the raising of Lazarus (sorry, spoiler alert). This week, the encounter includes the symbolism of water and light. Water and light are so important that they were at the very beginning of creation, and we cannot live without them. As Fr. Matt said last week, 3 days without water and you are soon to be a goner! Light gives us vitamin D, regulates our sleep, and without it, all plant life, and all life for that matter, would perish.
Today, Jesus uses water as he spits on the ground, yeah, gross, but there is the water, perhaps that’s all he had available, and he makes clay with it and anoints this man’s eyes. He further instructs him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The gospel tells us Siloam means “sent”. When he does, he is cured and can now see the light!
Just like the woman at the well was sent back to town to “evangelize,” this man is now being sent to evangelize, thus fulfilling why Jesus said he was born blind:
It is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
These encounters with Jesus changed them, for good! The women at the well evangelized about Christ, and those in that town began to believe. In the blind man's encounter, he is “anointed” with clay made from water and dirt, and his sight is restored to him; this healing shows the works of God. In our baptism, we are anointed with chrism, which probably smells much better than clay! Because of our baptism, we are inherently changed.
The Catechism tells us that:
Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte "a new creature," an adopted son of God, who has become a "partaker of the divine nature, member of Christ and coheir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit”.
Our sacraments include not just spiritual elements but physical ones also, like water, oil, and chrism. All our sacraments are also encounters with Christ.
The elect are now preparing for baptism, the first of these encounters. The scrutinies help them to turn away from sin and toward the light of Christ. While specifically for the Elect, they offer all parishioners a time for reflection on their own baptismal commitment. Saint Paul gives a great summary of that change that baptism brings:
Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
Before our baptism, we were spiritually blind, and afterwards we were given sight, spiritual sight. We have great examples from the Gospel to live up to. The women at the well went into town, no longer afraid and ashamed but bold in proclaim she things she has found the Messiah! The man born blind stands up to the Pharisees and tells them:
This is what is so amazing: you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.
In anger, the Parisees throw him out. We need to show courage like them. The Church calls us to do so as the Catechism further speaks on baptism:
We are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that we may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light." … Reborn as sons of God, [the baptized] must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church, and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God
We cannot be ashamed of our faith, of our God, of our Savior, once we leave the safety of this church today. We must go forth and glorify the Lord by our lives, our deeds, and our words.
Saint Catherine of Siena gives us great advice to sprint towards the finish line this Lent:
Start being brave about everything, driving out darkness and spreading light as well. Don’t look at your weakness, but realize that in Christ crucified you can do everything.
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