The Elect made a choice to leave behind blindness, Bishop Solis tells them at RCIA Retreat

IC photo/Linda Petersen

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Bishop Oscar A. Solis shares some thoughts with the Elect at the Diocesan RCIA Lenten Retreat on March 25.

DRAPER — At the Diocesan RCIA Lenten Retreat on March 25 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Bishop Oscar A. Solis shared with the Elect and their families and friends four lessons contained in the Scriptures that can help the faithful “to recognize the identity of Jesus in our lives and in our world,” he said.

At the beginning of his homily, Bishop Solis welcomed participants to the retreat, which had as its theme “Walking in The Light of Christ.”

“I would like to extend to all of you a warm welcome in order to live and learn our identity as a community of faith,” he said. “I would like to present to you today some important reflections in regard to the Word of God in order to understand the significance of the lessons of faith contained in the Word of God to help us grow in our faith.”

Bishop Solis then expounded on the story of the blind man healed by Jesus in John 9:1-41. He encouraged the Elect to follow the example of the blind man in their own journey to full fellowship in the Church. The blind man embraced Jesus as his Savior, not just as the healer of his infirmity, and “I hope you can see yourself in the blind man who slowly recognizes the important presence of Christ in his life, and through the sacraments that you are going to receive, you’re opening your heart to recognize Jesus as your Lord and Savior,” the bishop said.

“Jesus is a caring and loving God who is sensitive to our suffering and our pains” was the first lesson Bishop Solis shared that day.

Suffering exists so that Jesus can reveal the word of God was the second lesson, Bishop Solis said in continuing remarks. “Our pain and suffering can serve a greater purpose in our lives. God can [use] our most difficult experiences for good.” The blind man’s infirmity “became an opportunity to encounter Christ Jesus as his Lord and Savior. What most people think of as a curse has turned into a blessing in his life.”

In the Scriptures “we see the power of faith in Jesus and the power of obedience to his word,” which was the third lesson, Bishop Solis said. “The blind man’s faith in Jesus is a central part of his healing.” The story of the blind man accepting and following Jesus as his Savior “demonstrates the power of faith and the importance of trusting in God’s word and being obedient to his teachings.”

A fourth lesson concerns understanding who is truly blind, Bishop Solis said. “The [blind man’s] parents became blind to the Son of God. This is the hardest blindness to heal, not the man blind from birth but the man blind by choice. They embrace the darkness and refuse to see the light. This is the journey you are undergoing in your pilgrimage of faith during the Rite of Christian Initiation. You were given the choice to remain blind, not to see Jesus and recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior, but God is giving you the gift of faith, the gift of faith to know that it is Jesus that you ask to be a part of your life.”

Bishop Solis then invited those who will be baptized or fully welcomed into the Church through Confirmation at the Easter Vigil to open their hearts to God’s grace.

“Through the anointing of holy oil and through the waters of Baptism, God will give you the newness of life,” he said. “At Baptism, all of you Elect will move from darkness into light. This is the good news that Jesus, the light of the world, offers.”

During the retreat that day, Bishop Solis gave participants the opportunity to share their RCIA faith journey; five individuals chose to do so.