People Walking without the Light of Christ - Third Sunday of Lent

People Walking without the Light of Christ  -  Third Sunday of Lent

After his fall, man was not abandoned by God.  On the contrary, God calls him and in a mysterious way heralds the coming victory over evil and his restoration from his fall.  This passage in Genesis is called Protoevangelium (“first gospel”): the first announcement of the Messiah and Redeemer, of a battle between the serpent and the Woman, and of the final victory of a descendant of hers.  (CCC 410).

But why did God not prevent the first man from sinning?  St. Leo the Great responds, “Christ’s inexpressible grace gave us blessings better than those the demon’s envy had taken away.”  And St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “There is nothing to prevent human nature’s being raised up to something greater, even after sin; God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good.  Thus St. Paul says, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more;”  and the Exultet sings, “O happy fault,.....which gained for us so great a redeemer!?  (CCC 412).

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.  You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing.  (Is 9: 1-2)

But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.  The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him; a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.  (Is 11: 1 -3).

Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting. Not making his voice heard in the street.  A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.  (Is 42: 1 - 4).

We wait, and all will look in awe as we see the suffering man who is Christ, the Son of God;  God himself of the Holy Trinity; preparing to bring into our vision the plan to redeem each of us by becoming the Sacrificial Lamb whose Blood is our sanctification.

What appeared to be our punishment because of Adam’s sin became the only way for our entry into eternal happiness with God to become a grace that saved us.

Ralph B. Hathaway