03/15/2026

We have reached the midpoint of our Lenten journey. Today is Laetare Sunday—which means "Rejoice!" The Church gives us this day as a spiritual "breather" to keep us from growing weary. And to mark this moment of encouragement, the priests wear rose vestments. I think I look good in pink, too, as well as purple. (Actually, I look good in any colors)

Today’s gospel depicts Jesus healing the man born blind. This story is full of symbols. Among them, I’d like to reflect on two points from this account today.

First, The Method of Healing.

Jesus heals the man by mixing his saliva with the dust to make clay. We know some occasions Jesus spat in the bible. You know, that doesn’t mean that Jesus likes to spit; it is a vivid callback to the moment of Creation.

In Genesis, God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into him to give life. Here, Jesus uses that same dust and his own "breath" (his saliva) to give the blind man new sight. In that era, sickness was often equated with sin, and healing was depicted as an act of forgiveness. So, In this context, this healing story speaks something profound about forgiveness: “Forgiveness is a new creation.” This blind man became a new being through Jesus—not only physically, but spiritually. Likewise we, too, are made new when we encounter God's mercy. God’s work of creation didn't stop in the Garden of Eden; it continues through his forgiveness.

Second, I’d like to muse on the name of the pool: Siloam, which means Sent.

The name is not a coincidence, nor did Jesus send him to one of the random ponds. This is a crucial detail. Actually, “The sent” is a significant expression in John’s gospel. It is used 17 times to refer to Jesus. Thus, Jesus is depicted as the sign sent from God. Notice what happens: the blind man is “sent” to Siloam. By washing in the pool, meaning sent, the man becomes a sign from Jesus. Having experienced God’s mercy, he is transformed into a walking witness and sent into his place.

This is our story. When we experience God’s mercy through the sacraments—whether the sacrament of reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and receiving communion, we are called to be the signs of God’s mercy, and sent to our places. In other words, we are called to become "Sacramental beings." We become the visible signs of God's invisible grace in the world.

So, on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, I invite you to ask yourself: Do you truly feel God’s love in your faith life? How has your encounter with Jesus changed you?



He is calling us to Siloam. He is calling us to be washed, to be made new, and to be sent.