FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (LAETARE SUNDAY)

FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 23: 1-3, 3-4, 5, 6

SECOND READING: Ephesians 5:8-14

GOSPEL READING: John 9:1-41



St. Francis had attained a wondrous purity of soul and body, yet he never stopped purifying the eyes of his spirit with a flood of tears, despite the fact that it was damaging his bodily sight. As a result of his continual weeping, he developed a serious eye disease. But when the doctor tried to persuade him to restrain his tears if he wanted to prevent blindness, St. Francis replied, “Brother Doctor, we shouldn't, in order to preserve that light we share in common with the flies, refuse even the smallest measure of that eternal light which visits us. The gift of sight was not given to the spirit for the good of the body, but the body for the good of the spirit.” He preferred to lose the light of his eyes rather than to dry up the fervor of his spirit by damming up his tears which cleansed his interior sight and rendered him able to see God.

St. Bonaventure – Major Life 5:8



After reading these bible passages, someone I know saw God's people were struck and consumed by a blinding white light, brighter than the sun. It bleached their clothing pure white, glowing magnificently...blindingly. From out of every pore of their bodies, both inside and out, the blinding white light of God's presence poured forth. It went through them like sunlight through a window. So white, in fact, that it seared and blinded our eyes, pitching us into pure black darkness.

Then God sent his people out this light to all the corners of the earth, commanding them to take it to all the people on earth so that everyone who was blinded by it. As God's people handed off the light to others, they also were comsumed by the blinding white light. They, likewise, passed it on to others. Their numbers immediately grew larger and larger, finally encompassing the entire earth. Everyone clothed in light shouted and rejoiced that the Lord had used them as a carrier of His light.

There was joy, dancing, singing and shouting of praises to God. Evryone who received the light received the blindness, and were also able to give this precious gift to everyone else....all-consuming fire...magnificent splendor !!!!


A Portiuncula brother