Fourth Sunday of Lent

 Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 15, 2026

1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9, 1-41

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In the late 1700s, the manager of a large hotel in Baltimore refused lodging to a man dressed like a farmer. He turned the farmer away because he thought this fellow’s shabby appearance would discredit the reputation of his distinguished hotel. The farmer picked up his bag and left without saying a further word to anyone. Later that evening, the innkeeper discovered that he had turned away none other than the Vice-President of the United States – Thomas Jefferson! Immediately, the manager sent a note of apology to the famed patriot, asking him to come back and be his guest in the hotel. Jefferson replied by instructing the messenger as follows: “Tell him I have already reserved a room. I value his good intentions highly, but if he has no room for a common American farmer, then he has no room for the Vice-President of the United States of America.” (Brian Cavanaugh). 

The Fourth Sunday of Lent invites us to reflect on the way God sees people. Human beings often judge by appearances, by social status, by success, or by outward qualities. God, however, looks deeper. God looks into the heart. The readings of today speak about sight and blindness. They challenge us to ask whether we truly see people the way God sees them, or whether we remain blind in our judgments.

This story reveals something very human. We often judge people by what we see on the outside. We decide quickly who is important and who is not. We assume we know a person's value based on appearance, position, or wealth. But God does not see in this way.

The first reading from the First Book of Samuel shows us this clearly. Samuel is sent by God to anoint a new king for Israel. When he arrives at Jesse's house, he sees the strong and impressive sons standing before him. One of them looks like a perfect candidate for the throne. Samuel is immediately impressed by his appearance. But God stops him and says something very important. Human beings see the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

One by one, Jesse’s sons pass before Samuel. Each one seems strong and capable, but God rejects them all. Finally, the youngest son, David, is called from the fields where he is tending sheep. He is the least expected, the one no one considered important enough even to invite to the gathering. Yet it is this young shepherd whom God chooses as the king of Israel.

This moment teaches us that God often chooses the people whom the world overlooks. The world looks for power, status, and prestige. God looks for humility, openness, and a heart ready to listen.

The second reading from the Letter to the Ephesians continues this theme by speaking about light and darkness. St Paul reminds Christians that once they lived in darkness, but now they are called to live as children of light. To live in darkness means to remain blind to the truth, blind to God, and blind to the dignity of others. To live in the light means to see clearly, to recognise goodness, and to walk in the ways of God.

Paul invites believers to wake up from spiritual sleep. He says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” This is a powerful image. Sometimes we go through life without really seeing. We go through our daily routines, yet we fail to notice God's presence around us. We fail to notice the suffering of people beside us. We fail to recognize the value of those whom society ignores.

The Gospel of John presents one of the most beautiful miracles of Jesus, the healing of the man born blind. The disciples see the blind man and immediately ask a question that reflects the common thinking of their time. They assume that the blindness must be the result of sin. Someone must be guilty. Perhaps the man himself, or perhaps his parents. Jesus rejects this way of thinking. Instead of discussing blame, he acts with compassion. He approaches the blind man, places mud on his eyes and tells him to wash in the pool of Siloam. When the man washes, he receives his sight for the first time in his life.

The miracle creates confusion and debate among the people. Some rejoice, but others question what has happened. The religious leaders investigate the miracle again and again. Ironically, the man who was physically blind begins to see the truth more clearly, while the leaders who believe they can see remain spiritually blind.

As the conversation continues, the healed man gradually grows in faith. At first, he calls Jesus simply a man. Later, he calls him a prophet. Finally, when Jesus reveals himself as the Son of Man, the man believes and worships him. His journey is not only a physical healing but also a spiritual awakening.

The Pharisees, however, refuse to accept what has happened. Their pride prevents them from recognizing the truth. They claim to see clearly, yet their hearts remain closed. Jesus ends the story with a striking statement. He says that he came into the world so that those who do not see may see, and those who think they see may become blind.

The Gospel invites us to examine our own lives. Are we truly seeing with the eyes of faith, or are we blinded by pride, prejudice, and judgment?

Three simple life messages emerge from today’s readings.

God looks at the heart, not at appearances. In our daily lives we easily form opinions about people based on what we see. We may judge someone by their clothing, their education, their background, or their social status. Yet God reminds us that every person has a dignity that goes far beyond outward appearance. The person whom we ignore today may be precious in the eyes of God.

Secondly, Jesus brings light into our blindness. Many times, our blindness is not physical but spiritual. We fail to see our own weaknesses. We fail to recognize the goodness in others. We fail to see how God is working quietly in our lives. The Gospel invites us to approach Jesus with humility and allow him to open our eyes.

Thirdly, once we receive light, we are called to live as children of light. Faith is not only about believing in God. It is about allowing God’s light to shape the way we treat others. A person who truly sees with the eyes of Christ becomes more compassionate, more patient, and more attentive to the dignity of every human being.

At the beginning, we heard a story about a man who was judged only by his appearance. A hotel manager saw only a poor farmer and decided he was not worthy to enter a respectable place. Only later did he realize that the man he rejected was the Vice President of the United States. The mistake happened because he looked only at the outside and failed to see the true value of the person before him.

In the same way, today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus always has time for the poor, the forgotten, and the rejected. If Jesus has time for a blind beggar sitting on the roadside, then he certainly has time for each one of us. For in one way or another, we all come before God as people who are blind and in need of his light. And when Christ opens our eyes, we begin to see the world, and one another, as God truly sees.

During this season of Lent, the Church invites us to open our eyes and hearts to God’s light. Lent is a time to allow Christ to heal our blindness and teach us to see others with compassion and humility. As we continue our Lenten journey, may the light of Christ open our eyes so that we may recognize God’s presence in every person we meet.

Happy Sunday 

Third Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent March 08, 2026

Exodus 17:3-7;   Romans 5:1-2, 5-8;   John 4:5-42

(image courtesy: Google)

This real story is said of the German concentration camp during the Second World War.  In the camp were a group of rabbis and learned Jews along with persons who had been in high standing prior to their arrest.  They had to work for six and half days every week but on Sunday afternoons they were left in relative peace. One such afternoon, some of the learned Jews in their despair decided to put God on trial. The rabbis acted as judges and witnesses came forward for defence and for the prosecution.  The case for the prosecution was overwhelming. They had only to look around them: they were being wiped out as a race; many of their families had already died in the gas chambers.  They were unable to look for their dear ones. How could a good God allow this to happen? The judges, despite a stout defence, had no difficulty in reaching the verdict.  God was guilty as charged, guilty of abandoning his chosen people. Silence fell upon the court. Then an elderly Jew got to his feet and said: “Nevertheless, let us not forget…it is time for our Evening Prayers.”

This striking moment reveals something profound about faith. Even amid doubt and suffering, the human heart continues to seek God. Faith does not always begin with certainty. Often it begins with questions, struggles, and searching. Yet slowly, step by step, people come to know the Master more deeply. This gradual realisation of who God is and how He works in life becomes the heart of the Lenten journey.

The first reading from the Book of Exodus presents the people of Israel wandering in the desert. They are tired, thirsty, and frustrated. The harsh desert conditions test their faith. In their distress, they begin to complain against Moses and even question God’s presence. They cry out, “Is the Lord among us or not?” This question reveals their inner struggle. They have witnessed God’s power in the liberation from Egypt, yet in the desert, they feel abandoned.

God responds to their complaint with mercy rather than anger. He tells Moses to strike the rock at Horeb, and water flows from the rock for the thirsty people. In the middle of the desert, where life seemed impossible, God provides what they need. The place is named Massah and Meribah because the people tested the Lord and questioned His presence. Yet the miracle of water reminds them that God had never truly left them. The desert experience becomes a lesson in faith. At first, the people see only dryness and hardship. Later, they discover that God is quietly present even in their struggles. Their understanding of God grows gradually through experience. This is often how faith develops in human life. Many people first encounter God not in moments of comfort but in moments of need.

The second reading from the Letter to the Romans speaks about the deeper meaning of faith. St Paul explains that through Jesus Christ we have been justified by faith and now stand in the grace of God. Paul reminds believers that the love of God has been poured into their hearts through the Holy Spirit. This love is not something distant or abstract. It is something real and living within the hearts of believers.

Paul highlights the greatest sign of this love. Christ died for humanity while people were still sinners. This means that God’s love does not wait for human perfection. Instead, it reaches out first. God reveals Himself through self-giving love. As people reflect on this love, they slowly begin to understand who God truly is. Faith, therefore, becomes a journey of discovering the depth of God’s love.

The Gospel presents one of the most beautiful encounters in the New Testament. Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. At first, this seems like a simple meeting between two strangers. Yet the conversation gradually unfolds into a profound revelation. Jesus begins by asking for a drink of water. The woman is surprised because Jews normally avoided contact with Samaritans. As the conversation continues, Jesus speaks about living water, a water that satisfies the deepest thirst of the human heart. The woman begins to sense that there is something special about this man. At first, she calls Him “Sir.” Later, she begins to recognise Him as a prophet. Finally, she wonders whether He might be the Messiah. Her understanding grows step by step.

What begins as a simple conversation becomes a life-changing encounter. The woman realises that Jesus knows her life completely, yet He speaks to her with compassion and truth. She leaves her water jar behind and runs to her village. She tells the people about Jesus and invites them to come and see Him. Because of her testimony, many people come to believe in Him.

The journey of the Samaritan woman reflects the journey of faith that every believer experiences. At first, Jesus may appear simply as a teacher or a historical figure. Gradually, through prayer, reflection, and personal experience, believers begin to understand Him more deeply. Eventually, they recognise Him as the source of living water who brings meaning and hope to life.

Lent is a season that invites believers into this journey of deeper realization. It is a time to rediscover Christ step by step. Through prayer, fasting, and acts of charity, people open their hearts to the presence of God. Just as the Samaritan woman moved from curiosity to faith, Lent invites every Christian to move from a superficial understanding of Jesus to a personal encounter with Him.

The story from the concentration camp reflects this same truth in a powerful way. The prisoners struggled with questions about God’s presence in suffering. Yet the elderly man who called everyone to prayer showed that faith is not simply about having answers. Faith is about continuing to turn toward God even when life is difficult. In that simple act of prayer, he revealed a deep realization. Despite everything, God remained the One to whom they could turn.

Both the story and the Gospel point to the same insight. Faith grows gradually. It begins with questions, moves through experiences, and finally leads to recognition and witness. When people come to know Christ personally, they naturally feel called to share that discovery with others.

The Samaritan woman did not keep her experience to herself. She became a messenger who invited others to meet Jesus. In the same way, every believer who encounters Christ is called to become a witness of His presence in the world.

1. Faith grows step by step. Like the Israelites in the desert and the Samaritan woman at the well, people often begin their journey with questions and doubts. Yet when they remain open to God, they gradually discover His presence and guidance in their lives.

2. Christ alone can satisfy the deepest thirst of the human heart. Many people search for fulfillment in success, possessions, or recognition, but the Gospel reminds believers that the living water offered by Christ is the only source of lasting peace and meaning.

3. A true encounter with Christ leads to mission. When believers truly know the Master, they naturally feel called to make Him known. Like the Samaritan woman who invited her village to meet Jesus, every Christian is called to share the hope and love of Christ with others.

The story of the prisoners who continued to pray even after putting God on trial reminds us that faith is ultimately a relationship. The Lenten journey invites believers to deepen this relationship step by step, until knowing Christ personally leads them to share His presence with the world.

Happy Sunday