Fourth Sunday of Lent
Dear friends in Christ
As we are now at the half-way point of Holy Lent, the Church slightly eases the rigours of these days with this Lætare Sunday which anticipates the happiness of Easter, as the opening words of the Mass proclaim, together with lighter coloured vestments and music. Last week the Gospel was the Samaritan Woman at the Well, this Sunday the cure of the Man Born Blind. The whole of our Christian lives is an effort to believe more deeply and see the Person of Jesus more vividly. That man, blind from birth, had his sight restored. Once his eyes are opened, he is able to see Jesus and make a profession of faith in His divinity, His Godhead. The miracle is a symbol of how God in Christ restores the eyes of our faith so that we can proclaim our faith in the True God. Jesus uses mud to anoint the eyes of the Blind Man, he uses created material to effect the miracle. Similarly in the Sacraments, God uses matter such as water, oil, bread and wine, as the means whereby grace—the life of God—is communicated to us in the Church. God continually uses ordinary and human means to communicate his divine life to us. We are hearing this Gospel, on this Sunday, to remind us of the essence of this season. Lent is a period of enlightenment for those who are preparing to enter the Church this Easter or Pentecost. It is also a period of increased light for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.
During this week shall celebrate two important Saints for our Parish: Saint Patrick on Tuesday and Saint Joseph on Thursday; both are patrons of the Parish Family. The original church building (the old Parish Hall demolished in 2012) was dedicated to these two Saints. When Canon Francis Gilbert built our present edifice, he wished it to be dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Saint Patrick was lost from the new dedication but his statue in the church today is a reminder of his original patronage of our Parish. May these two Saints intercede for us in a special way this week, and bring us closer to Christ in his Passion and Death.
Please pray for our Bishop—Alan Williams—who this weekend reaches a significant birthday by which he is required to submit his resignation to Our Holy Father, the Pope. We now begin the important process of discerning and awaiting a new Pastor for our Diocese, perhaps later this year.
We pray also for Father Cornelius Joyce who celebrates his ninetieth birthday next Saturday; may God bless him and reward him for his generous priestly service.
We remember all Mothers this Sunday as Mother’s Day always occurs on Lætare Sunday which neatly reminds us of the joy of Motherhood and the gratitude owed to our earthly mothers who are mirrors and icons of God’s Mother, who is our heavenly Mother too.
God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale