Father Brian Geary, Pastor, St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Sandwich
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today is Laetare Sunday, the first (Latin) word taken from the Introit for Holy Mass this Fourth Sunday of Lent. Laetare is translated “rejoice” and encourages us to exalt that the Lord is near to us in our suffering. The Passion of the Cross gives way to the everlasting victory of Christ’s Resurrection. For the faithful who persevere to the end, Our Lord promises eternal joy and triumph.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said in today’s Gospel that He came into the world for judgment, “so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind” (Jn. 9:39). Jesus is the light of the world in whose light we see light (cf. Ps. 36:9). Our eyes need light in order to see anything. We cannot see God’s truth unless He gives us the grace to see. We have to admit that we cannot see on our own (even though we think that we see just fine). Asking God for light gives us the ability to see as God sees. Without His light we cannot see at all. With God’s light we can see ourselves and others as God sees.
Light is a major theme of Lent. The Lord wants us to reject darkness so that we can live in His light. Rejoice that the true light, Jesus Christ, has come into the world (cf. Jn. 1:9-10). May we rejoice in Jesus since He brings light to our darkness and salvation to us sinners. With hope we look forward to seeing Him in perpetual light.
