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St. Clement Hofbauer was born Johannes Hofbauer on December 26, 1751, in Tasswitz, Moravia, the ninth child of a butcher and his wife. His father died when he was only 6 years old. His mother then held a crucifix before him and said, “From now on, He is your father.

“Do you want to be well?” This is what Jesus asks the man in today’s Gospel. But rather than give Jesus a quick “yes!” he gives excuses: “I have no one to put me in the pool” and “Someone else gets there before me.” Perhaps he was accustomed to being sick, and it was easier just to remain ill. Often when I’m giving retreats, people will tell me about some problem they’re having and ask for advice.

One challenge of our time is that of our “lost souls,” people who were practicing members of our faith community and have drifted away. Parents experience this with their children and wonder, “Was it something we did or didn’t do?

“Try to remember, and if you remember, then follow.” Those lyrics from the musical The Fantasticks are very good words to remember and put into practice as we reflect on the Scriptures this third Tuesday of Lent.