Rejoice O Jerusalem: Homily for Laetare Sunday

  

1 Sm 16;1B, 6-7, 10-13A

Eph 5:8-14

Jn 9:1-41

 

"Laetare Jerusalem:

et conventum facite omnes

qui diligitis eam:

gaudete cum laetitia,

qui in tristitia fuistis . . ."

 

"Rejoice oh Jerusalem

and all who love her.

Be joyful, all who were in mourning . . ."

 

The name Laetare for the fourth Sunday of Lent derives from the first Latin word of the entrance antiphon, Laetare. Rejoice.  In one of the many essays he composed during 40 years teaching at Georgetown, the late Jesuit Father Jim Schall wrote: "Laetare Sunday is traditionally called a respite.  It makes us begin to feel the nearness of the Passion and the Resurrection, but with a reminder that even amid the Lenten fast and the coming remembrance of the Crucifixion,we are not to forget that Christianity is a religion of joy."  

 

Father continues, "Christianity is called the most worldly of the religions. . . . because it is a religion engaged with the world and in the world, but it is not of the world.  Christianity transcends the world, it goes beyond the world it goes beyond the universe. It will not cease when the world ends or when the universe involutes on itself."

 

We will be reminded on the Feast of the Annunciation in eleven days, that because of Mary’s fiat  “May it be done to me according your word,”  Christianity will continue beyond the end of the world just as those words will echo eternally beyond the end of the universe.

 

Schall then makes a further observation,

 

"Christianity is also the happiest religion since it knows this world is not all there is. There is something precious beyond the world.  The world is not a bad place. if we don't expect of the world more than it can give, or if we don't see the world for what it is not."

 

Paul’s instruction to the Ephesians is that they see the world for what it is and what it is not.  “Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness, rather, expose them. . .   Live as children of the light, for light produces every kind of goodness, and righteousness, and truth. . . . “

 

The task of the Church is to expose the works of darkness: the works of darkness in the abortion clinic, the works of darkness in state legislatures that are passing bills to allow killing the sick elderly before their time, and the works of darkness, the pure evil, of those who encourage and assist in the psychological, surgical and hormonal abuse of confused children who lack independent decision-making capacity.

 

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”  Christ gives us the same light that he gave the man born blind,

 

Laetare Sunday reminds us that we are approaching the magnificent liturgies of the Sacred Triduum. The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday begins with the blessing of the fire from which the paschal candle is lit.  As he incises the candle before lighting it, the priest says the words that explain our faith in one sentence:

 

"Christ yesterday and today

the beginning and the end.

Alpha and Omega;

all time belongs to him,

and all the ages;

to Him be glory and power,

through every age for ever."

 

Soon our mourning, will be replaced by dancing.  It will not be the short respite of Laetare Sunday but the unfettered joy of Easter, a joy we will carry forth despite the realities of life impinging on us. The darkness of death will be overwhelmed by the light of eternal life. 

 

Like the man born blind in today's Gospel, we will see with unclouded vision.  Unlike the man born blind, we will not be confused about who gave us our sight. 

 

"Laetare Jerusalem:

et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam:

gaudete cum laetitia . . . "

 

Rejoice Jerusalem  . . . . Rejoice.

 

______________________________________________________

A Sunday I always look forward to for what it meant in childhood.  Not a major celebration thing but always looked forward to it.  

 

Photos are from St. Joseph Trappist Abbey, indeed I will be there this coming Saturday. 

 

Almost the entire church using a 7 mm lens. Because of the blue stained glass it is difficult to take and process a color photo of the church.  Black and white conversion works great.  The blue cast actually make adjusting the shadows much easier. 

Entrance to the monk's choir from the cloister.

The cavernous sacristy.  On Sunday there will be a large number of dusty rose vestments on the vesting table.  The vestments at Spencer are expensive (see Holy Rood Guild) but worth every penny and then some.  They will last forever.  And, as they have no images, focusing on excellent fabrics and beautiful trim, they never go out of style.  

 

Fr. Jack, SJ, MD