020 Fourth Sunday of Lent
Readings
Cycle B 4th Sunday of Lent
Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
New Testament: Ephesians 2:4-10
Psalm: Psalm 137
Gospel: John 3:14-21
Homily Theme
Light? or Darkness?
This Sunday Cycle A readings may be read in parishes where there is RCIA present
In the first reading this week, those that were supposed to be children of the light, walked in the ways of darkness, choosing evil calling it good. In the darkness of their spiritual blindness they became an abomination to the Lord, but God’ sent them messengers and they mocked them and rejected the teachings which were of God.
In our own day we repeat this process. God has sent us wonderful messengers such as Saint Pope John Paul II. Most of us have lived in the time period of Saint Padre Pio and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, but our world has chosen the darkness instead of the light. We have millions of baptized Catholics who claim the name Catholic but live their lives in the darkness of sin and ignorance of the teachings of the true Faith. Millions no longer practice the Faith. They should be walking in the light of the Teaching Church but they have chosen instead to walk in the darkness of secular thinkers and false teachers. They do not see the evil of their sins because of their lack of true spiritual insight. This is an abomination to the Lord and a cause for His retribution. There is no excuse for us since He said to the Apostles those that reject you reject me. Millions are rejecting the truth taught by the infallible teachings of the successors of the apostles.
The chosen ones of the Old Testament sat and wept as they pondered their previous prosperity. The present killing of Christians in the Middle East has made us more aware of own dependence on God. Those who have lost money in the stock market or who have lost their employment can really relate to this week's psalm. Many of them are now weeping at the well of doom and gloom.
Both the second reading and the Gospel give us hope, assuring us of redemption for all those who choose to repent. God in His merciful love sends His only son to pay the debt of our sins. So that we do not boast of our own righteousness, we are reminded by Paul, ‘it is by grace that we are saved not by any works ours.’ Who among us can say we have never sinned nor chosen to walk in darkness? Let us reach out in love this Sunday to all those who are still in darkness and pray for their return to the Lord who died for them and their salvation. Ponder the words of the Gospel today and feel the presence of the God who loves us. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. The choice is ours to make. What will we choose? Light or Darkness ?
Pray we all choose Jesus the Light so that we can all see the Way.