Have Faith – The first two Sundays of Lent are characterized every year by the Gospel of Jesus’ temptation in the desert and his transfiguration – this year according to Matthew – Mark and Luke.
However, from the Third Sunday on, this parallelism ends. This year, we read three important passages in St. John’s Gospel that from early Church times were presented to “catechumens” – catechumens are those who have been preparing for baptism and reception of the faith. These passages are: the Samaritan woman (chapter 4), the cure of the man born blind (chapter 9), and the raising of Lazarus (chapter 11). The Church invites us to take our own baptismal itinerary like the catechumens do, from Sunday, March 8, until Sunday, March 22. And what a beautiful and profound itinerary it is! Look! We are invited to follow the path of the Church’s catechesis based on these intriguing stories recorded for us by St. John.
In the story of the healing of the blind man, we witness a double act of God’s mercy. The blind man received his physical sight and sight for his soul – the faith. The first miracle inevitably led to the second one, but gaining faith in fact was more important than physical sight. Why? Because his physical eyes, which are so important, are only for this life. However, the eyes of faith are for this life and for life everlasting. In other words, the healing of the body is pointless if it is not connected with the healing of the soul. The human body, including eyes, will disintegrate in the grave, but faith will lead a person to indestructible life. Moreover, the sight of faith will enlighten our steps on the earth, allowing us to overcome all obstacles, temptations, and discouragements. It will help us to see our life and the life of other people as it really is, and not a mirage of this life. Faith enables us to clearly distinguish good from bad, true from false, virtue from vice, and natural from artificial.
Never Give Up – More than one and a half years ago there was an initiative supported by our parishioners that the proper governmental body should install some type of warning light on the pedestrian crossing at Fair Oaks and Lies Roads which leads to the Forest Preserve. This path is heavily used, especially on weekends, by individuals and entire families. Many people, especially elderly and children, had a problem safely crossing this intersection, which at times generates heavy traffic. It was no surprise that a petition was sent to the Village of Carol Stream and other governing bodies. The people representing the initiative received a response with an explanation indicating that it was too late to do anything and it was too expensive. They heard nothing else for a year. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, there are now two special signs installed at this trail crossing with the words: “Push button to turn on warning lights.” What a victory! This is a good example that it is worth supporting and demanding good things and that we should be persistent, patient and never give up.
I remember writing a letter to the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago regarding some lewd scene not suitable both for children and adults. After not receiving a response — something that is not standard in a civilized world — I called and emailed them several times. I finally did receive information that the Ballet was not planning a performance in their next season of the same type that I had contested about. Another small victory! It is worth remembering that every reasonable support or criticism matters because it signals that either good or bad things are noticed by people. Those who are responsible will then think twice before they would like to challenge people again.
May God bless us in the beautiful season of Lent, a time of special fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, a time of growth in the faith and love towards others.
Fr. Mark Jurzyk