The Fourth Sunday in Lent (Lætare)
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
It’s an odd and unnecessary thing for St John to include this little detail in His retelling of this miracle of Jesus. On the surface, the story seems to be about Jesus healing a blind man. But St John wants us to see the story from the perspective of everyone else. First, we see the disciples debating the question of whether his affliction is a result of his own sin or his parents. (Spoiler: it’s neither). Then, after a very brief telling about the miracle, St John switches to the bystanders’ perspective. They are also debating whether the man is who he says he is. Then we move to the Pharisees (the very devoutly religious people) who are also caught up in a debate about the theology of the sabbath. Then, we meet this healed man’s parents who aren’t debating but who are afraid of speaking the truth for various reasons.
Certainly, St John doesn’t bring up all these outside perspectives by accident. The central question is one of sight. The blind man has never seen clearly. Jesus smeared spit and mud on the guy’s face and sent him to blindly find his way to a pool named “Sent.” The apostles, the Pharisees, the Chief Priests, and even the man’s parents are all blind in various ways. The Apostles are still thinking like they used to. The Pharisees can only see the question through the lens of the law. The bystanders can’t seem to recognize someone they should have a relationship with. The man’s parents choose to be blind because of fear.
In a narrative twist, the Pharisees pull the healed man in and ask to have the whole thing explained while threatening him to choose the same blindness his parents chose. But the healed man can see! And so he speaks the truth as he knows it to those who ask. Then, Jesus comes back to hammer home His point. Jesus specifically uses the metaphor of vision. Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he…” Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”
And St John puts an exclamation point on all this by adding that some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Of course, this all tied together because the Apostle’s initial mistake is connecting sin and lack of physical vision. Jesus connects sin with a lack of spiritual vision.
Nowadays, it’s common for Christians to pray some version of “Lord, let me see with your eyes” or “Lord, help me to see [whoever or whatever] as you see them.” For example, we should all ask the Lord to help us to see ourselves, our families, our enemies, and the poor as Jesus sees them. The metaphor can be extended by asking Jesus to allow us to recognize Him at work in the world and in other people.
The metaphor can be further extended to the sense of hearing by asking the Lord to give us “ears to hear” His voice “speaking” in the world.
These metaphors are important not just as clever turns of phrase, but because we are limited in our capacity to comprehend the Lord. We have our five senses and we have our limited mental capacities of memory, understanding, and judgement. We are so easily deceived and we miss so much. This fundamental humility means that we should be using every resource we can to comprehend the Lord communicating Himself to us and we should be appreciative that God knows our limitations and works within them.
God is revealing Himself to us through our sight and our senses. He’s also revealing Himself to us in subtler ways through intellect, imagery, beauty, and delight. O God, let us see with your eyes and hear with your ears, and perceive you with our minds, our imaginations, and our hearts!
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
- Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
- March 25 The Feast of the Assumption (Holy Day of Obligation). Mass at 9a & 5:30p.
- March 25 Pastoral Council meeting (Rescheduled) 6pm in the Parish Hall
- March 27 Lenten Potluck following Stations of the Cross and Mass in Parish Hall (see below)
- April 4 Easter Egg Hunt on Church grounds at 10 a.m. for parishioners and guests
For Your Information:
LENT The Season of Lent is meant to be penitential. It’s meant to be a time of deliberate and conscious discomfort in order to shake up our normal ruts and clarify our attention to the Lord and His Sacrifice for us and for our sins.
- Catholics aged 18 and up are obliged to abstain from meat on every Friday in the Lenten season.
- All Catholics are expected to “give something up” for Lent. As good as it might be to “do something extra” such as attend Daily Mass, say an extra Rosary, etc, Lent isn’t about doing something extra - it’s about giving something up. It’s a penitential season, not merely a virtuous one. As such, every Catholic from about the age of 14 should choose a food or activity which they generally enjoy and from which they can safely abstain for the entirety of Lent. As with all penances in the Church, Sundays are the Lord’s Day and fasting is not allowed! And so whatever you give up, you CAN have on Sunday.
LENTEN DEVOTIONS On the Fridays of Lent, Confession is available at 5:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. followed by Mass. On March 13, and March 27, we will have a simple meat-free Lenten potluck after Stations and Mass as we have done in years’ past. Fr Ryan will make a hearty soup.
FORMED.ORG has weekly features at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org
ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is invited. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more information.
St. Francis of Assisi Church in Waterproof invites you to participate in the Jubilee Year of St. Francis which marks the 800th anniversary of his death. To commemorate, a plenary indulgence is available to those who visit a church dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis in Waterproof is inviting anyone to come, as individuals or groups, during this year. The church has received a relic of St. Francis. Pilgrims can sign the pilgrim book, receive a holy card of St. Francis, venerate the relic, and obtain a plenary indulgence. Please contact Fr. Taylor (stjosephinstjoe@gmail.com or 318-766-3565) to arrange a visit.
EASTER EGG HUNT will be held on Holy Saturday, April 4 at 10a.m. on our church grounds. Stephenie Marsh is organizing the event . Please check with her to offer your assistance. We will need lots of plastic eggs with treats or hard boiled dyed eggs so your help is appreciated.
EASTER FLOWER ENVELOPES will be available in the next week or two to offset the purchase of Easter Lillies. Donations can be made in honor of someone by indicating that intention on the envelope.
EASTER SPECIAL COLLECTION The second collection on Easter Sunday is not assessed by the diocese in order to offset various parish expenses. This collection is a great opportunity to make a donation which will be retained 100% locally. Please be prayerfully generous.
ATTENTION ST EDWARD YOUTH Mrs. Dana Hamilton has volunteered to organize several events, trips, and activities for teens from grades 6-12. She will be calling a meeting soon (probably on a Sunday). If you are interested in helping her or your children are interested in participating, please touch base with Dana or let Fr Ryan know. More info is forthcoming.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of deceased priests of the Diocese of Alexandria
- Mon NO MASS
- Tue NO MASS
- Wed NO MASS
- Thu 9:00a (at Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Darryl Ellerbee, Sr. (birth anni)/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Lee Rome (death anni)/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Norman Stephen Ernst (death anni)/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of Payton Trichell (death anni)/family
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/14 5:30p | - | M Rome | M Ernst |
| 3/15 9:30a | Kathleen, Evelyn, Daniel M | Youth-Michael | - |
| 3/21 5:30p | - | A Farlow | N Ernst |
| 3/22 9:30a | MaryKatherine, Maura, Elizabeth | D Ellerbee | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,500 |
| February Budget | $ 10,000 |
| February Collections | $ 18,734 |
| February Expenses | $ 9,427 |
| March Budget | $ 12,500 |
| March 8 Collection | $ 4,284 |
| March to Date | $ 7,610 |
Stewardship The blind man was willing to let Jesus minister to him and willingly did all Jesus asked of him. The Pharisees were more resistant to His message, spending their time and energy to disprove the miracle. Which am I more like, the man born blind or the Pharisees?
THE SECOND COLLECTION is for Catholic Relief Services which helps those who are vulnerable and needy, both around the world and right here at home!
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to Shannon Wood (Mar 15), Mary Trichell (Mar 16), Alyssa Oliver (Mar 17), Angel Farlow (Mar 20), Finley Nadeau (Mar 20), Briana Clark (Mar 22)
Happy Anniversary to Alyce and C.W. Keene (March 21)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
For our Pope, Leo XIV, our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Craig Cox, Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Jimmy Hopson(Wilks), Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Ruth McDonald (Copes), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Chandler Wood
