2212AFC032522 – Our Five Sons
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Year A
1 Samuel 16:11-13 – 11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
John 9:5-7 – 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
Year C
Joshua 5:12 – 12 The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
Luke 15:20-21 – 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Aloha nui loa, ʻŌmea! At the beginning of Lent I said we’d do something special for the middle Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent also called Laetare Sunday so named because of the Introit (entrance antiphon) which in Latin begins with “Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, …” which means “Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, …” For this special Sunday, the vestments and church appointments are rose-colored (“pink”) to remind us that we are looking forward now to Jesus’ continuing final journey from Capernaum, through the Samaritan town of Ginae, on through Jericho, Bethany, Bethphage, and then his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. That is of course followed by his Passion, Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection.
You noticed I have FOUR Key Verses today. That is because during this part of Lent – the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays – we celebrate what is called “The Scrutinies” along with those who are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation (← You know what to do here) at the Mass of the Easter Vigil.
In Parishes where there are no Elect (Catechumens), we continue with the Year C readings. Some of us will hear Year A this weekend and some of us will here Year C, so I’m putting both in this post. We’ve never done that before, so this is a Special Edition!
In the Year C readings we have two sons – Joshua the son of Nun who has inherited the leadership of Israel from Moses, and an unnamed decadent lad who has betrayed his family to satisfy his Worldly desires. Joshua will lead Israel into Canaan – the land promised to Abraham and all his generations and direct Israel in God’s campaign to rout all the evil nations from that territory. As soon as Israel had eaten of the fruit of their own labors, the sustenance from God – Manna – ended. Later, the reckless child of a loving father ends up starving in the Land of Plenty. Joshua was loyal to his God and his people’s inheritance. The youth who squandered his father’s inheritance repented. Always note that the father never gave up on his dissolute son, but watched for him constantly. When at last he saw him – and before the son even began his repentance – the father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. What do we say here? “Repent, and believe the Gospel.” While we are on our way to confession, God our Father is reaching out to us with open arms to embrace us for getting closer, close enough to express our contrition and to repent.
We have another pair of sons in Year A. first we have Jesse’s youngest, David. If you’re from a large family, you know that the children born last and late in life are the “baby of the family.” They are precious, and loved, and usually a bit (a lot!) spoiled. No one in Jesse’s family would expect that David was the one God wanted to anoint. “He’s just a kid! What can he do that these others cannot?” He had a heart like God’s heart, his thoughts were on God, in God, of God, from God, and constantly turned toward worship, service, and praise. He was the least likely in the family to amount to much, yet God chose him above all others.
The second son in that set of readings is an unnamed blind man. I don’t think this is the same guy as Bartimaeus (↔ Click Link) because the actions in this story are different from the account of Bartimaeus’ healing. This unnamed son gets healed because Jesus says so. This man did not ask Jesus to heal him. Jesus healed him because he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. (See John 9:3-4). That darkness is what would later be called by the Apostle Paul as “This present darkness.” (↔ Click Link). I have often wondered if Jesus used the clay he made with his spittle to create new eyes for that man (from the dust of the earth as in Genesis 3:19). Whatever Jesus’ reason for this unusual method, the man was sent to clean up at the Fountain of Shiloh, the pool of Siloam. Because of his unquestioning obedience, he came back able to see. His trip to Siloam was an Act of Faith. Thereafter he again acted in faith and believed the Gospel. (↔ Click Link)
Up to this point we have looked a four sons – two of them have familiar names – Joshua and David. The other two are unknown, but their roles in Scripture are well-known. Now we come to the point where we look into the story of that last of the five sons in the title. Who do you think it is? Here’s a small hint: The meaning of his name is very similar to the name of one of the four sons previously named. Two of the sons are unnamed, so that leaves David and Joshua. Did you guess Jesus? Then you are right! Joshua in Hebrew is יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yehoshua) {yeh-ho-shoo’-ah} which means “the LORD is Salvation.” Jesus’ name in Hebrew is יְשׁוּעָה
(Yeshuah) {yeh-shoo’-ah} which means “Salvation.” An example of that usage can be found in Exodus 14:13 and Isaiah 52:10. He ultimately is known to the Apostles and many other Disciples as the Messiah – the Anointed One. He is the “Only Begotten Son of God” (See John 3:16-17 so that we can better understand what “Salvation in Jesus” means.) We also know that in Scripture he is referred to as “Messiah.” This Hebrew word is מָשִׁיחַ (mashiach) {maw-shee’-akh} which means “Anointed One.” That title was given to all the Kings of Israel and Judah. What does that have to do with this post? Let’s review what Samuel did: Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. David was anointed. So was Saul incidentally. Joshua was anointed by Moses through laying on of hands. This marked Joshua (and his comrade Caleb) as having charismatic (giftedness) skills in administration and leadership, bravery and strategy. Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon are all anointed by the Holy Spirit.
Who is this Holy Spirit, and who gives this anointing? He is God – the Almighty, Everliving God, our El Shaddai-Olam (↔ Click Link), God in Three Persons, Blesséd Trinity. Now of course you know that, so I’m going to go a bit deeper and ask if there is anyone you know who is anointed. Would you believe me if I told you that there are literally BILLIONS of people who have all been anointed? Catholics who have been baptized, confirmed, and/or ordained to the clergy are anointed with chrism, the oil of catechumens, the oil of consecration. We are anointed Priest, Prophet, and King so that through our lives as Disciples who have formed within our hearts and minds the intention of serving God and neighbor as intended according the Scriptures we will sanctify our lives and the lives of family and neighbor through our actions as does a good and holy ruler. We will share and bear witness to the Divine Truths we know because of our closeness to God as all Prophets do. We use our Gifts from God to help lead others to the communities we share with others – family, church, school, workplace, and anywhere we interact with others for common purpose that leads to Good.
Now you can see that there is a “slight” error in our title for today. We looked at five sons, but we ended up with billions of sons and daughters who are Priest, Prophet, and King. And yet there is still One we did not put in the spotlight. He is that Only Begotten Son, and today is an important day to remember that. Hopefully we have all remembered the holiness of this day for the Church – for all Christian peoples of all times and places. 
Today we recall the very crux of Infinity. I have said before that the place where the two loops cross is the Manger. I learned recently (thank you Brendan Case) that I need to back that up about nine months to the date of March 25th. Do you know what date that is in the Church calendar? It is the date on which everything in the B.I.B.L.E. is based – and most of us call it by the wrong name! It is indeed called The Feast of the Annunciation (TODAY!), but it is also the DAY OF THE INCARNATION! Through Mary’s fiat- her unqualified YES – Jesus was “incarnate of the Holy Spirit … and became man.” He became the Second Adam, the perfected joining of man and God, the Anointed, the Messiah.
Now we are prepared for Year A and Year C. If your Parish is celebrating the Scrutinies for this Lent, be sure to look up the readings before you go to Mass. You can find them here (↔ Click Link) If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you can enter your email address and have the daily reading sent to your email every day! Reach out to God. He’s watching down the road for you with his arms wide open.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
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Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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