“But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.” (Luke 15:22-24).  

 

The major theme for this fourth Sunday of Lent focuses on the “joy” in this Lenten season, for having the possibility of and the ways to reconcile ourselves with God and with our neighbors to start a new life, a holy life in Christ. Today is traditionally known as the “Laetare Sunday,” which means “Rejoice Sunday.” It marks the midpoint of the Lenten Season in anticipation of Easter joy. 

 

Appropriately, each of the three readings today characterizes one of the many aspects of Easter joy. For example: In the first reading today, the people of God are celebrating for the first time the feast of their freedom in the Promised Land. The joy they experienced is one of the promises fulfilled by God. In the second reading, the apostle St. Paul joyfully proclaims the effects of our salvation done by Jesus Christ, which is the reconciliation of all peoples to God, the Father that produces great and profound joy. In the Gospel reading, the joy is expressed in the experience of “coming home” event of the prodigal son, and the rediscovering of the prodigal father’s forgiving, gratuitous and unconditional love toward all his sons, which includes the elder son as the father pleaded with him: “My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” 

 

All these readings invite us to rejoice with the Lord by reconciling ourselves with God and with one another through our sincere conversion, repentance, amendment, participating in the sacrament of confession, penance or reconciliation to achieve the eternal life that has been promised to us and waiting for us in heaven.  

 

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s readings invite us to rejoice, repent and reform our lives in this Lenten season to live a new life in Christ. 

 

How can we rejoice and reconcile with God and one another, embrace sinners but not the sins?

 

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.