4th Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday - Year A - Seeing What He Sees & “Lord, Make Me An Instrument”
Friends, this Sunday is also known as Laetare Sunday. It roughly marks the halfway point between Ash Wednesday and Easter. The word “laetare” means “rejoice” and reflects the beginning of the entrance antiphon from Isaiah 66: “Rejoice, ... Be joyful all who were in mourning ...” It calls us, in the midst of our Lenten observances, to look forward to the joy of the Resurrection. A little bit of Lenten Purple, mixed with the anticipation of Easter White, gives us Laetare Rose, as our liturgical color of the day.
This weekend’s readings emphasize the difference between how God perceives us and how we perceive ourselves. When God looks at us, he sees the beautiful soul he created. His gaze is like the light that dispels any form of darkness. According to the second reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, ‘…anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light.’ The light of God sees through our weaknesses; he sees beyond appearances; he sees the soul. God is not deceived by appearances because he is interested in the soul.
In the first reading Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem to anoint one his sons chosen as the new king of Israel. Of his eight sons, God chose David the youngest; the insignificant shepherd boy who was out looking after the flock. Samuel anointed David king, and the spirit of God stayed on him thereafter. In the Gospel, Jesus and his disciples saw a man born blind, and they asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ In answering them, Jesus seized the opportunity to correct the wrong impression of associating sin with sickness. He told them that neither the man nor his parents sinned. For the Pharisees saw in the blind man a sinner from birth, who is beyond redemption. Jesus on the other hand saw in him a soul thirsting for God. Jesus restored his vision as a demonstration of God’s love for our souls which transcends all difficulties and limitations.
The lesson for us on this fourth Sunday of lent is that God is interested in our souls more than in our appearances. Appearance does not always portray the beauty of the soul. We shouldn’t allow our weaknesses to define us. While we struggle with our weaknesses, we should always bear in mind that God sees us differently. His gaze penetrates beyond appearances and weaknesses. The labelling and the tags we place on each other has no effect in our relationship with God..
We would like to share our latest video, “Lord, Make Me An Instrument”, a contemporary setting of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, co-written by Francesca LaRosa and Sarah Hart, that turns the beloved “Make me a channel of your peace” text into a gently flowing, memorable hymn for parish worship. With a calm, contemplative melody and lyrics that ask God to help us sow love where there is hatred, bring pardon where there is injury, offer hope in despair, and choose understanding over being understood, it invites singers and listeners into a deeper life of mercy, generosity, and self-giving love.
Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.
