Dear Friends in Christ,
On the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent, we celebrate the Scrutinies. The first Scrutiny was held last Saturday at Our Lady of the Chesapeake at 4pm. The second Scrutiny is this Sunday at OLC at 10:45. The Third is next Sunday at SJF at 10am.
The Scrutinies prepare our catechumens (those not yet baptized) for baptism as they ask for graces of purification and detachment from sin. For those of us who are already baptized, the scrutinies ready us to renew our baptismal promises at Easter. The gospel passage of each Sunday harmonizes with each scrutiny. In each gospel we encounter Christ’s power and desire to restore us to wholeness and communion with God, ourselves, and others.
Last week, we heard the mystery of the Samaritan Woman from John 4. Placing ourselves in the Samaritan Woman’s shoes, we come to realize that Jesus thirsts for us. He meets us “where we’re at.” But, He loves us too much to leave us there – in our sins and our woundedness. His truth purifies us. Lord, I thirst for you!
Today on the fourth Sunday, we hear the story of the man born blind from John 9. Jesus gives vision to the blind. More importantly, Jesus is able to give new sight to those blinded by sin. But those who do not admit their sin and need of the Savior remain blind. Lord, I want to see!
Next week we will hear the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, has come to raise the dead to new life in the Spirit. Lord, I believe you can heal and restore me, that you can elevate me to a new life. Lord, raise me to new life!
Thank you so much to Teresa Sparklin, Melissa Boyle, volunteers, Knights—all who contributed to make the St. Patrick’s Day Bazaar a success!
We look forward to a good turnout this week for our parish mission! Please join us Monday at 7pm at St. Jane Frances for a talk on Reconciliation along with Eucharistic adoration and opportunities for Confession; Tuesday evening, 7pm at OLC for a talk on Anointing of the Sick with Adoration and Confessions; and Wednesday evening at 7pm at OLC for a Mass of Healing and opportunity to receive the Anointing of the Sick. Please invite friends and family to these powerful nights of prayer for our spiritual family of our Pastorate.
May St. Patrick and St. Joseph defend and intercede for us on his their feast days this week (Tuesday and Thursday)!
God bless!
Fr. John
