# Opening Ourselves to God's Grace – 4th Sunday of Lent
*2017-02-26*

> Bill Young reflects on the Gospel of the blind man, the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the saint of the day, urging listeners to open their hearts to Christ’s light and grace during Lent.

## The Light of the World

The Gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of Lent (John 8:12) reminds us that Jesus is the Light of the world. Bill compares our journey to that of the blind man in John 9, who first recognizes Jesus’ name, then receives spiritual sight when Jesus reveals Himself as the Messiah. He warns that we can become like the proud lawyers of the law, judging others and even the Lord, instead of humbly opening ourselves to Christ’s light. The thought of the day is: “How might I better open myself to God’s gifts and use them to help others?”

## Prayer for the Week

Bill leads a prayer asking that all preparing for the Easter sacraments may be illuminated by Christ’s light. He invokes the Holy Spirit to fill the faithful, to renew the earth, and to continue the work of the Gospel in the hearts of believers. The prayer concludes with the traditional doxology: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit… as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.”

## The Sorrowful Mysteries in Lent

Bill meditates on the five Sorrowful Mysteries, linking each to a fruit of the mystery:
1. **Agony in the Garden** – sorrow for sin; he recalls Jesus’ sweat like drops of blood (Luke 22:44‑45).
2. **Scourging at the Pillar** – purity; he mentions Pilate’s role (John 19:1).
3. **Crowning with Thorns** – courage; the soldiers placed a crown of thorns and a reed (Matthew 27:27‑29).
4. **Carrying the Cross** – penance; Christ bore the cross to the place called Golgotha (Hebrew: Golgotha).
5. **Crucifixion** – love; Jesus’ final words, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
For each mystery Bill recites the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and a concluding doxology, asking Mary, Mother of God, to pray for sinners at the hour of death.

## Saint Catherine of Genoa

Bill briefly introduces the saint of the day, Saint Catherine of Genoa (1447‑1510). Born into a noble Italian family, she experienced a profound conversion after a confession that changed the course of her life. He notes her dedication to the poor and her mystical writings on the love of God’s mercy.

## Closing Prayer and Intentions

The episode ends with a series of intercessory prayers: for the Holy Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Louis de Montfort. Bill also prays for the founder of the Legion of Mary, Fr. Frank Duff, and for Adele Quinn, asking for her intercession. He reminds listeners that any petitions through these saints should be sent in writing to the Legion of Mary in Dublin.

*Lent invites us to let Christ’s light dispel our darkness, so that we may bear the fruits of sorrow, purity, courage, penance, and love.*