Our Sabbath Scripture Stories – 4th Sunday of Lent – Cycle A

Read or listen to this Sunday’s Mass readings here.

  • 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
  • Ephesians 5:8-14
  • John 9:1-41

Already!  The fourth Sunday of Lent!  It seemed like the time was passing very quickly this year.  And today was a very special day for the Pauline family.  It was Grandma’s 85th birthday!

This had always been an especially wonderful day for Mrs. Pauline.  Her grandmother, Minnie O’Penyor, was a delight!  For 85 years old, she still had keen, blue eyes, a quick wit, and a delightful laugh.  She was a joyful Irish woman, who regaled the family with stories of her “little girl days” in Ireland before her family moved to America.  It was always a grand celebration to host Grandma’s birthday party!

Since the party would start right after Mass, the kids quickly hung up balloons, streamers, and decorations before Dad called them into the living room to hear the Gospel reading for this morning. 

“Kids … !” was the only call necessary.  Everyone dashed into the living room as Dad opened his Bible and read from John, Chapter 9.  It read like a short story.  And what a wonderful story!  The passage was about not seeing the light … being too afraid to see the light … seeing the light … and then refusing to see the light.

“Any questions, Kids?”  Dad asked as he looked around at his family.

“Isn’t this a great Gospel?” Mom began.  “I have always loved this reading.  You think you ‘see’ it one way, but Jesus wants us to ‘see’ it another way!”

“What do you mean, Mom?”  Lucy asked.

“Well,” Mom began, “the blind man, who can now see, knew Jesus had performed a miracle.  He knew that, when he obeyed the instructions Jesus gave him, his eyes were opened.”

“That’s right, Therese,” Mr. Pauline added.  “But others would not believe it, like the Pharisees.  And this is the part you shake your head at.  How sad it is to be ‘blind’ to the truth, but THINK you see. 

That is what Jesus meant when He said to them, ‘We see, so your sin remains.’  “  (John 9:41b) 

“You know, Mom,” Mary Clare said, “it seems that a lot of the songs we sing at church talk about ‘seeing’ or ‘having your eyes opened,’ don’t they?”

“You know, you’re right, Mary Clare,” Mom said as she began humming.  “Off the top of my head, I can think of several songs.  Just last week we sang, ‘Open My Eyes Lord, I Want To See Jesus!’ “

“And how about ‘I Love You Lord?’ “ Vincent offered.  “That starts out, ‘Open your eyes, see the glory of the King … ’ That’s a great song!”

And then there’s ‘Amazing Grace,’ ” Dad added.  “It says, ‘I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see … ’ “

“And don’t forget when we sing, ‘Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You … ’ ”  Lucy tunefully added.

“So there are many, many songs that remind us of this truth,” Mom agreed.  “Jesus wants us to open our eyes, and take that final step of faith—seeing Him as the true Son of God, worthy of our love and adoration.”

“Maybe that’s why on Saint Patrick’s Day, all of us sing ‘Irish Eyes Are Smiling!’ ” Vincent declared as he thought of the March feast day.  “Saint Patrick knew the truth about Jesus as the Son of God, and I’m sure his eyes were smiling!”

“I’m sure you’re right, Vincent!” his mom agreed.  “And you know, being from Ireland, that is one of my Grandma O’Penyor’s favorite songs!”

Vincent got a funny look on his face and started to laugh.  “You know, Mom,” he giggled loudly, “in lots of ways you look just like Grandma O’Penyor … especially your eyes!”

“Huh?” they all wondered, not sure what Vincent found so hysterically amusing.  How was Mom’s eyes looking like Grandma’s eyes so funny that Vincent was laughing, rolling on the floor?

Vincent snorted and cackled.  “In fact,” Vincent sputtered, “every time I look at your eyes, I’m going to think of this Gospel reading!”

“Huh?” they all said again, seeing Vincent still rolling on the floor.

“Absolutely!” Vincent clucked, looking at his bewildered Mom. “O’Penyor Eyes!”

And with that groaning note, (I’m sure you saw that coming!) the family jigged off to Mass!

“Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see.”
(John 9:39)
“I am the light of the world.”
(John 9:5b)

Would you prefer a print a copy of this story?

Cycle A, 4 Lent, SSSDownload

Our mission is to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be “the first and foremost educators of their children” and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living our beautiful Catholic Faith!

Are you looking for more ways to help your family reclaim Sundays and grow closer to Jesus together?