Fourth Sunday of Lent: Laetare Sunday

Readings of the day: RB 33 Personal Possessions in the Monastery

Mass: 2 Ch 36:14-16, 19-23; Resp Ps 137; Ep 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21

For Year A: 1 S 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Resp Ps 23; Ep 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

John 3:16—one of the most oft quoted verses of the Bible. Think about the places you’ve seen someone silently holding a placard aloft that reads:John 3:16—athletic events, parades, wherever large numbers of people gather—the scene that comes to my mind is a freezing cold Packers game with swirling snow and folks bundled up. There stands a loyal Green Bay ‘cheesehead’ with sign held high—John 3:16.

The WORD gives us cause to rejoice this Laetare Sunday. Even in the midst of the penitential season of Lent, we rejoice: ‘For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned.’ St Paul reminds us: By grace we have been saved through faith. This is God’s gift to us. So, let us boast in the Lord as we ask for pardon for our shortcomings. The LIGHT of CHRIST has come into the world and draws us closer and closer to the LOVE that loves us.

Living and true God, increase our faith.

Help us to ‘live the truth and come to the LIGHT

so that our works may be clearly seen as done in you.’

In what way will you rejoice in the Lord today?

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH!

(Ne 8:10)