Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent

A painting of great worth by the renowned artist Caravaggio hung in the dining room of a Jesuit house in Dublin for years, unnoticed by its inhabitants. One day, an art expert recognized its value, and upon closer examination, confirmed that it was indeed a masterpiece by the great Roman painter. The painting is now displayed at the National Art Gallery in Ireland as one of its most precious treasures. 

In today's second reading, St. Paul speaks of how we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to lead a good life. Similar to the Caravaggio painting, our worth may go unnoticed, even to ourselves. Though we may not see ourselves as works of art, God sees and values us as such. Through the words of Isaiah, God reminds us that we are precious in His sight and that He loves us. 

When we recognize our worth to God, it strengthens our hope. We can also view others as works of art and treasure them, valuing them for who they are. When someone is precious to us, we do everything we can to show our love and devotion to them. In doing so, we catch a glimpse of how the Lord relates to us. We are loved in a way that transcends all cost, as the gospel reminds us: "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." 

While the Cross is not a symbol of glorifying suffering, it is a symbol of how far God is willing to go to show His love for us. The Cross is a reminder of how valued we are to God, so much so that He gave up His only Son to save us all.