A Lenten Reflection On The Sunday Gospels
The Gospel passages for the five Sundays of Lent, leading up to Passion Sunday and Holy Week, include the following: The Temptation of Jesus in the Desert (1st Sunday, Luke 4:1-13), The Transfiguration of Jesus (2nd Sunday, Luke 9:28-36), The Samaritan Woman at the Well (3rd Sunday, John 4:5-42), Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (4th Sunday, John 9:1-41), and The Raising of Lazarus (5th Sunday, John 11:1-45). All five of these provide a profound sense of what it means for us to claim Jesus as Christ, the Messiah, Savior. In turn, such a claim has profound consequences for those who claim to be His disciples.
On the First Sunday of Lent, we are told that Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to fast and pray for 40 days before being tested by the devil. This incident occurs shortly after Jesus’ baptism and just before he begins public ministry. Though the devil is able to quote scripture, the Word of God, Jesus is able to withstand his temptations by embracing the Will of the Father. As we take up the three-fold disciplines of Lent – namely, prayer, fasting and almsgiving – we too must do more than be able to quote scripture. We must take it to heart in such a way that we are able to know and embrace the Will of God in our lives. This is the sign of authentic discipleship. As we journey through the desert experience of this world, we must remain open to the transformative grace of conversion and purification.
On the Second Sunday of Lent, we are privy to that incredible moment of Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah on the mountain. Along with Peter, James and John, we are given the opportunity to realize how Jesus Christ embodies the fulfillment of the Law (as represented by Moses) and the Prophets (as represented by Elijah), the whole of the Old Testament. As with the apostles, with great privilege comes great responsibility. Faith does not spare us the hardships of life. On the contrary, faith demands that we be willing to walk amid the peaks and valleys of life while keeping in mind the call to embrace both the passion and glory of Jesus Christ. There is no legitimate way around the cross for those who truly desire to share in His victory over sin and death.
The Church recalls one of the most endearing gospel stories on the Third Sunday of Lent, with the recounting of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Crossing various social boundaries, Jesus patiently and tenderly engages in an in-depth conversation with a woman who thirsts for something more than water. He touches the core of her being, as Pope Francis would say, to heal her wounds and warm her heart. Her spirit having been restored by the mercy of God, she becomes an evangelizer, proclaiming the Good News and leading others to encounter the person of Jesus Christ and believe. As Pope Francis has made quite clear, each and every baptized member of the Church is called to missionary discipleship.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent provides us with one of the most detailed of healing miracles in the entire New Testament. In addition to specific details about the miracle itself, the man who had been born blind is immediately thrust into quite a series of inquiries upon being able to see. The former beggar is able to look upon Jesus in faith while many with unimpaired physical sight remain blind to Jesus’ true identity as the light of the world. We too must look beyond the mere physical to see with eyes of faith the miracles taking place in our midst through the Proclamation of the Word, the Celebration of the Sacraments and the Outreach of Service.
Who does not know the story of the raising of Lazarus, as recounted on the Fifth Sunday of Lent? Just a week from embarking upon Passion Sunday and Holy Week, we hear the declaration of Jesus as the resurrection and the life. It is also an occasion for us to ponder the question put to Martha in the midst of grief, “Do you believe this?” While the raising of Lazarus probably did no favors for Lazarus, since he would have to die again, it is quite significant for all believers then and now, as this event points to the experience of the empty tomb on the morning of that first Easter Sunday. We might ask ourselves: What stones need to be rolled away in our lives and relationships that would free us to know the joy, peace and healing power of God’s mercy?
Hence, we are led with Jesus into the desert experience of the Lenten Season to confront the various faces and seductions of evil with the only worthy weapons of Christian faith; namely, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through penance and sacrifice, we allow ourselves to be transformed by divine grace to be more Christ-like in our witness of following Jesus to Calvary and beyond. At the heart of it all, we must have the courage and humility to examine our conscience, confess our sins, ask forgiveness and accept the mercy of reconciliation. As Pope Francis includes in his Prayer for the Jubilee of Mercy, we take this time to “hear, as if addressed to each one of us,” the words spoken to the Samaritan woman; “If you knew the gift of God!” To hear and take such words to heart enables one to embrace the call to missionary discipleship. Our Lenten observances provide an occasion to remove those things – bitterness, fear, guilt, pride, prejudice, selfishness and self-righteousness – which prevent us from seeing and recognizing the presence and power of God in our midst. Finally, regardless of our plight in life, may we strive to prepare ourselves for the Easter experience by echoing the words of Martha, “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” The Season of Lent is indeed a sacred opportune time for us. Looking toward the celebration of Easter, let us not take for granted all the grace available to us along the way.
