The blind beggar believes on Jesus after restoring his sight than the Pharisees who condemn the act of his healing done on sabbath

March 6, 3016

Fourth Sunday of Lent – Year A Scrutinies

Reading 1

1bThe LORD said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”[1]

6As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,

“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”

7But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”

10In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” 11Then Samuel asked Jesse,

“Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”

12Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, “There -anoint him, for this is the one!”

13Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (1)The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3ahe refreshes my soul.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

3bHe guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for You are at my side With Your rod and your staff that give me courage.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

5You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

6Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2

Ephesians 5;8-14

8Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Live as children of light, 9for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

10Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; 12rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”[2]

Verse Before The Gospel John 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows Me will have the light of life.

Gospel John 9;1-41

1As Jesus passed by He saw a man blind from birth.[3] 2His disciples asked Him,

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. 4We have to do the works of the one who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva,

and smeared the clay on his eyes, 7and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” - which means Sent -. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

8His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” 9Some said, “It is, “but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.”

10So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11He 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.”

12And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” 13They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. 14Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.

15So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them,

“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”

16So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

17So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight

until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. 19They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?”

20His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.”

22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged Him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. 23For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.”

24So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”

26So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples, too?”

28They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! 29We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this One is from.” 30The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where He is from, yet He opened my eyes.

31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does His will, He listens to him. 32It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If this Man were not from God, He would not be able to do anything.”

34They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

35When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered and said, “Who is He, sir, that I may believe in Him?”

37Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, the One speaking with you is He.” 38He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped Him. 39Then 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.”

40Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to Him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

OR John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

1As Jesus passed by He saw a man blind from birth.[4] 6He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, 7“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” - which means Sent -. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

13They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. 14Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.[5] 15So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”

16So some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

17So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”[6]

34They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

35When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered and said, “Who is He, sir, that I may believe in Him?” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen Him, and the one speaking with you is He.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped Him.

Notes on Readings:

[1] 1 Samuel 16:1 - The anointing here prepared for is unknown to David's brother Eliab in the next chapter (1 Samuel 17:28), and David is twice anointed after Saul's death (2 Samuel 2:4); 5:3).

[2] Ephesians 5:14 - An early Christian hymn, possibly from a baptismal liturgy. For the content compare Ephesians 2;5-6; 3:9 and Isaiah 60:1.

[3] John 9:1 -10:21 - Sabbath healing of the man born blind. This sixth sign is introduced to illustrate the saying, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12); 9:5). The narrative of conflict about Jesus contrasts Jesus (light) with the Jews (blindness John 9:39-41). The theme of water is reintroduced in the reference to the pool of Siloam. Ironically, Jesus is being judged by the Jews, yet the Jews are judged by the Light of the world; compare with JJohn 3;19-21.

[4] John 9:7 - Go wash: perhaps a test of faith; compare with 2 Kings 5;10-14. The water tunnel Siloam (= Sent) is used as a symbol of Jesus, sent by his Father.

[5] John 9:14 - In using spittle, kneading clay, and healing, Jesus had broken the sabbath rules laid down by Jewish tradition.

[6] John 9:17 - Go wash: perhaps a test of faith; compare with 2 Kings 5:10-14. The water tunnel Siloam (= Sent) is used as a symbol of Jesus, sent by His Father.