Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally called Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin word that means "rejoice." This Sunday reminds us that we are halfway in this Lenten Season. Also, today's Gospel describes the reason for our joy: God's great love for us has been revealed in Jesus. Through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Christ hs reconciled us with God and one another.

In today's readings we find a clear theme that links them together. Today's readings are about God's mercy to sinners.

In the First Reading, we have beautiful words God spoke to his people that he had taken the shame of Egypt away from them. The shame of sin and the darkness of slavery were behind them. The years of wandering in the desert were over. They came home to the Promised Land. A new year was about to begin for them. They celebrated their homecoming by celebrating anew the feast of Passover. God in His mercy set the Israelites free. Finally, they were free from the humiliation they suffered in Egypt.

This homecoming from Egypt is closely connected with the Gospel Reading about the prodigal son. His shame was also behing him. His long years of wandering were over and he returned home where his father, filled with love and joy, gave him a warm welcome and a great feast. This warm welcome marked a bright future that was ahead of him. Jesus told this parable in response to the criticism of the Pharisees that He was to lenient towards sinners. They were meant to see themselves in the older son. For Luke, to say the "Pharisees" are righteous Christians is unfair and scandalous. They frequently forget that God delights in showing mercy to repentant sinners.

In the Second reading, St. Paul ssays that Christ brought about reconciliation between God and humanity. The Church's task is to bring the benefits of this to all people. St. Paul stresses how God has reconciled us to Him through Christ, not holding our faults against us.

Let us use this Lenten Season to repent of our sins and experience the healing grace of our Lord. Please check dates and times for the vicariate reconciliation services.

                                     God bless all of us.

                                                Fr. Dariusz

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