Today, the fourth Sunday of Lent, is Laetare Sunday; marking the halfway point of the Lenten Season. Laetare means “to be joyful” or rejoice. The vestments for today are rose colored instead of violet and we rejoice because we are the recipients of God's love.
We all know the children’s song “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Yes, Jesus loves us and in today’s Gospel Jesus tells us about the vastness of God’s love for us in what are the most quoted verses in the New Testament, John 3:16-17. “For 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”
One scripture scholar writes that these two verses contain the “very essence of the gospel.” God loves us. God loves not just you and me, God loves the world. St. Augustine said: “God loves each one of us as if there was only one of us to love.” Jesus did not have to convince God to love us, God loved us first.
Our problem is accepting the enormity of this love. God loves us unconditionally, understanding our inadequacies, limitations and sinfulness. God does not condemn us; God forgives us out of love. Given the immensity of God’s love, we have every reason to rejoice. So, on this the fourth Sunday of Lent, REJOICE! And, during the week give yourself a gift. Spend a few moments basking in the love of God.
Father of peace,
we are joyful in your Word,
your Son Jesus Christ,
who reconciles us to you.
Let us hasten toward Easter
with the eagerness of faith and love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
