Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday

Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday, Rejoice Sunday. Today’s entrance antiphon is taken from Isaiah 66:10-11 which is part of Isaiah’s prophesy about New Eve through her faith and obedience gave birth to the Son of God to redeem all people from sin. The entrance antiphon sets a tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery. On Laetare Sunday the rose-colored vestments may replace violet symbolizing the Church's joy in anticipation of the Resurrection, which cannot be contained even in Lent, though we still refrain from       Alleluia’s and the singing of the Gloria until the magnificence of the Easter Vigil.

The second Book of Chronicles (36:14-16,19-23), from which our first reading for today comes, looked back at the Babylonian Captivity and saw the hand of God. The Jewish people walked away from God. They practiced infidelity after infidelity, abomination after abomination. The prophets had been persecuted or ignored. Finally, God permitted Babylonians to conquer Judah and destroy the Temple. Most of the people were deported into slavery in Babylon and they were powerless.

The prophets had told the people that God was only punishing them for a while, but they would be freed to   return home. It seemed to be an impossible situation. The Babylonians were certainly not going to let them go. The Jews had no way of rebelling against powerful Babylonians.  How could it happen that they could return to Jerusalem?  Nothing changed for 60 years.  But then God worked his wonders. The Babylonians were          conquered by their Northern neighbors, the Persians.  Cyrus, King of Persia, saw his conquests as gifts from God.  So he immediately released the Jewish people so they could return to their land to rebuild the Temple to God in Jerusalem and thank their God for King Cyrus.

Today’s Gospel (John 3:14-21) is a section of  Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus. He was a pharisee and a Jewish leader and he was one of the 71 members of Sanhedrin, the supreme ruling council of the Jews. In the movie “Chosen” there is a beautiful scene where Nicodemus comes to Jesus. He is searching for truth. At the same his social status is holding him back. Today’s Gospel Jesus told him that Jesus must be lifted on the Cross, just as Moses lifted the serpent in the desert. To understand what Jesus is talking about we must go to the book of Numbers 21, where the story of Moses and the bronze serpent is given.

Israelites complained against God and Moses because they were hungry and thirsty. Their complaints were a sign of their lack of faith, and God sent fiery serpents among them that began to bite them and kill them. And that Moses made a bronze serpent to lift up in front of them, so that whoever would look upon the serpent would be saved, kind of through a miraculous act of healing.

Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross is for the redemption of humanity. We need to look at the cross. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). God the Father sent his only begotten Son to redeem us and give us eternal life was a supreme act of love for us. Those who choose to walk in the light of Christ will gain happiness in this life and eternal life in the next.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 444 says, “The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the Transfiguration of Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus his "beloved Son". Jesus calls himself the "only Son of God", and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence. He asks for faith in "the name of the only Son of God". In the centurion's exclamation before the crucified Christ, "Truly this man was the Son of God", that Christian confession is already heard. Only in the Paschal mystery can the believer give the title "Son of God" its full meaning.”

Lenten season invites us to prepare our minds and hearts to celebrate the Pascal Mysteries. We look at the Cross with faith and receive the Sacraments he brought us through his passion, death, and resurrection. Laetare Sunday we have reason to rejoice because we are getting closer to celebrating the Easter Mystery.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate our children who are preparing for the First Communion and their families. Last Sunday they were introduced, and we all agreed to pray for them. Let us walk with them in prayer.