The 4th Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday from the Latin meaning “Rejoice.” We rejoice because we are half way through the Season of Lent and as we read in the ORDO, “Laetare Sunday sets a tone of joyful anticipation of the Easter mystery.” The 4th Sunday of Lent is also a good time to check ourselves to see how we are doing in our Lenten observances and if need be to get back on track. As a sports fan I liken it to the 1st half of a basketball or football game. Even though the team may not have had a good 1st half they can always turn it around in the 2nd half. Make your 2nd half of Lent better than your 1st!
Our readings again this week, like last week, are geared toward the RCIA Elect and Candidates preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. However, we can and should all take them into account in our own lives no matter how long we have been Catholic.
The readings speak of blindness and spiritual sight. In the 1st reading from 1 Samuel the scripture tells us, “Not as man sees does God see” as the Lord chooses David, the youngest son of Jesse to be king of Israel. David is anointed with oil and the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, a foreshadow of the anointing with oil in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
In the Gospel Jesus heals the man born blind by telling the man to go wash in the Pool of Siloam, a foreshadow of Baptism. Siloam means “Sent”. Jesus is the one who is sent to heal us and make us whole.
As disciples what do these readings mean to us? We need to look into our lives and see how we are blind. Are we blind to our own faults and shortcomings? Are we blind to the needs of others and to the needs of the Church? When we realize and acknowledge we are blind in certain ways, then we can come to Christ, the one who was sent to heal us and make us whole. For those of us who already have been baptized we can wash in the waters of Baptism once again through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through a good confession we can be washed clean, as clean and pure as we were on the day of our Baptism.
That is something to rejoice about!
In the 2nd reading Jesus calls us through St. Paul, “To live in the light…Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Let us go to Christ so he can heal our blindness and allow us to see in his light.