Homily 4th Sunday of Lent - March 15, 2026

 Today's readings are here.

            My wife and I enjoy World War II movies.  One of our favorites is the Caine Mutiny.  One of the characters is Ensign Keith, a newly minted officer from a wealthy New England family.  He’s used to having nice things and has a particular view of what the Navy should be.  In one scene, he’s reporting to his new ship, the Caine, for the first time.  He walks down the pier and sees a magnificent warship tied to the pier.  He goes aboard and says he’s reporting for duty on the Caine.  He’s then informed the ship he was on is not the Caine.  His ship is tied outboard of the ship he was on.  He crosses the deck and sees the Caine.  It’s rusty and run down.  Its sailors are sloppy, unshaven, with lax discipline.  Not all what Ensign Keith expected a Navy ship and crew to be.

            Our Scripture readings today are full of people that did not meet human expectations.  In our first reading, Samuel is asked to anoint one of Jesse’s sons.  He’s presented with seven young men who he thought would be suitable, especially the first born son.  But God did not choose any of them.  Instead, God chose David, the least of the brothers.  David was considered so unimportant by his father that he wasn’t even invited to the banquet!  He was told to remain in the fields to watch the sheep.  A task you normally hire someone to do.

            In our Gospel, Jesus heals a man the Jewish people likely ignored.  A beggar born blind.  A sinner.  The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned for him to be born blind.  Jewish people of the time believed that misfortune was God’s punishment for sin.  If you were born blind, either you or your parents must have done something to deserve this fate.  Jesus sets them straight.  No one sinned.  The man was born blind to show us the works of God.

Jesus did not meet the Pharisees expectations of the Messiah.  Jesus healed the blind man on a sabbath.  How could the Messiah not be an observant Jew?  He must be a sinner.  But how can a sinner heal a person born blind?  The Pharisees refused to see the way God sees.  God uses those that we least expect to make God’s works visible.  In our first reading, Samuel judged by the appearance and status of Jesse’s sons.  However, God chose David, the least in his family.  In our Gospel, God chose a blind man people considered sinful to do God’s work.  Our second reading is from a letter by Paul, probably the least likely disciple of them all!

What are our expectations on how to be a disciple of Jesus?  We may consider ourselves unlikely to do great things.  We may not feel as holy as the saints or as knowledgeable as a theologian.  We might think we need to be someone with authority in the Church to make a difference.  Remember that many of the saints would have been considered unlikely holy people at one point in their lives.  In my personal experience, I’m still amazed that God called me to be a deacon.  I was not a terribly good Catholic growing up.

God is calling all of us to do His works.  Paul tells us to live as children of light so that we can produce goodness.  How can we be a better disciple of Jesus?  I think two of our Lenten practices can help us discern what God is asking of us.  They are fasting and prayer.  We need to spend time in prayer to hear God speaking to us.  I know it can be difficult to find time to dedicate to prayer in our busy lives.  But here’s where the fasting comes in.  We usually think of fasting as refraining from food.  I suggest we fast from the things that distract us from hearing God.  In my case, while reflecting what to give up for Lent, I realized I was spending too much time on guitars.  It was literally taking up all my spare moments.  Searching the internet for the next good deal to buy one.  Deep diving into this instrument versus that one.  Watching guitar videos.  It was almost an obsession.  I didn’t realize how much of my attention it took up until I stopped.  I’m able now to focus more on prayer, hear God more easily, and see God in others more clearly.

What is taking up a lot of our attention?  It could be social media.  It could be streaming platforms.  It could be some hobby.  It could be something we’re worrying over.  Whatever it is, fast from it for the remainder of Lent.  Use some of that focus instead for prayer or reading scripture.  Use that time to listen more carefully to what God is trying to tell you.  To see ourselves and others as God sees us.  God uses the least likely people to do great things.  What is God calling you to do?