Lenten Bible Study
using the readings from Sunday Mass
For RCIA/OCIA and Liturgical Cycle Year A (2005, 2008)

Fourth Sunday of Lent
Read:
1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Psalm 23: 1-6
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41

Conversion to Christ is a process. The blind man in this Gospel reading exemplifies this journey into faith. Notice that at first he did not run to Jesus. Jesus came to him. The man responded by waiting to see what would happen and then by obeying Jesus' command. Conversion begins when Jesus seeks us out and we make ourselves available to His touch. He then opens our eyes to the truth, but we don't immediately understand. When the cured man's neighbors asked about the change, he still did not realize who Jesus was; he thought of Him as just a man. Then, under the pressure of listening to the Pharisees argue about who Jesus was, he had to give it more thought. He concluded that Jesus must be a prophet, which to the Jews was a highly esteemed, holy vocation.

Next, as the Pharisees treated him more roughly and raised the possibility of expelling him from the synagogue if he claimed that Jesus was the Christ, he had to wonder if what they feared might be true. Their reasons for hating Jesus became the eye-openers that cured his spiritual blindness.

Finally, Jesus sought him out again, this time to minister to him as he suffered from his persecutor's punishment. In this act of caring, the man could see who Jesus really was. Conversion -- the purification of our spiritual vision -- takes place in the fire of our sufferings as we recognize the love and concern that God has for us.

Questions for Reflection and Faith Sharing

1. In the first reading, God makes it clear that He sees what we cannot see when we're focused on external evidence. Think of a time when you looked deeper or beyond the obvious. How did that change you?

2. In Ephesians 5, we read that we have become light in the Lord. Name some of the good fruits that come from the ability to see what Jesus is doing in your life.

3. The Gospel reading illustrates that those who think they can see the truth very often are blind, and those who acknowledge their blindness become able to see clearly. Why does this happen? Has it happened to you?

Question for Moving Forward on the Journey
Think of an area of your life where there is confusion and a lack of understanding. Perhaps you're having a hard time seeing the goodness in a person who's been acting like a big jerk. Maybe you're worried about the future. What will you do this week that will help you see it from God's perspective?

© 2005 by Terry A. Modica

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See also the Lenten materials available at Catholic Digital Resources.

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