Fourth Sunday of Lent: Laetare Sunday
"‘Lord, I believe"
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Before we enter the darker days of Holy Week, we celebrate Laetare (‘Rejoice!’) Sunday.
Today we are reminded of the joy of the presence of Jesus, the light of our world, and of the love of God shining through our lives. Both the First Reading and the Psalm speak of the shepherd caring for the flock. Despite David’s youth and outward appearance, the Lord sees the strength of his heart, which will enable him to lead God’s people.
The Psalm speaks of the certainty that I can rely on the Lord as my shepherd, keeping me safe from harm whatever happens in my life.
In the Second Reading, St Paul reminds the Ephesians (and us) that God’s light in us shines out for others when we live in goodness and right living and truth.
In the Gospel, the blind man’s sight is restored and he comes into the light. Not only is he physically able to see for the first time, but he also recognises Jesus as the Son of Man. In contrast, those around him remain in the darkness of un-belief, trapped by their unwillingness to see Jesus as he really is.
This week, we pray for those who have yet to allow the light of Christ into their lives. We pray that we will carry Christ’s light to others as we walk beside them, sharing their hardships and sorrows.
'The Light of the World'
(c) William Holman Hunt
Here’s a text if you’ve only a minute …
People look at appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart.
First Reading
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit.
Psalm
You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord. Second Reading I am the light of the world, says the Lord; Whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Gospel Acclamation
Further Reflection
Laetare Sunday
The fourth Sunday of Lent is often referred to as Laetare Sunday (’Rejoice Sunday’). Its name derives from the opening words of the old Latin Introit for the Mass of the day: ‘Laetare Jerusalem’ (’Rejoice with Jerusalem’: see Isaiah 66:10). We have now reached the mid-point of Lent, when traditional Lenten austerity is relaxed for a while on this Sunday, as we look forward towards Easter with great hope.
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​Gospel John 9: 1–41
Chapter 9 is often thought to be the most dramatic portion of John’s Gospel. It is part of the section referred to by scholars as the ‘Book of Signs’ (John 1: 19 to 12: 50), which can be divided into seven ‘episodes’ (the wedding at Cana; the healing of the official’s son; the curing of a lame man; the feeding of the 5,000; Jesus and Peter walking on water; the curing of the man born blind; and the resurrection of Lazarus). The story of the man born blind begins Episode 6: the Light of the World (sight and blindness). It is linked to the story of the good shepherd and the Jewish feast of Hanukkah.
‘As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ This is one of two miracles in which Jesus uses spittle (the other is in Mark 7: 33). In the ancient world this was quite common: the spittle of a distinguished person was thought to hold curative properties. Jesus took and used the familiar methods and customs of his time.
The pool of Siloam This was the place where the conduit from the ‘Virgin’s Fountain’ (the Gihon Spring) emerged into the city. As a result, the pool was given the name Siloam, meaning ‘sent’: reflecting how the water was ‘sent’ through the conduit into the city. The pool was one of the landmarks of Jerusalem; a result of one of the great engineering feats of the ancient world. In John’s gospel Jesus often refers to himself as having been ’sent’; there are eleven occurrences of this in Chapters 7 and 8.
‘You were born in utter sin’ This is the only healing in the Gospels in which the sufferer is said to have been afflicted from the time of his birth. The Jews connected suffering with sin, and even the idea of pre-natal sin was not unknown. At the time of Jesus the Jews believed in the pre-existence of the soul, the idea coming from Plato and the Greeks. The thought of the sins of the parents being visited on their children is woven into the Old Testament: Exodus 20: 5 and 34: 7, Numbers 14: 18 and also Psalm 109: 14 and Isaiah 65:7. Jesus tells his disciples that neither the man nor his parents have sinned.
Physical and spiritual blindness Although this man’s physical healing was instantaneous, his spiritual progress was gradual. The fact that he was anointed and washed is symbolic of baptism, and this story is sometimes used for Baptismal instruction. The stages of belief that the blind man went through can be likened to the stages of catechumens in instruction as they advance to a deeper spiritual understanding and insight.
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For more insight to this Gospel and a series of reflections see the Season of Lent page.
To aid our reflection on the Sunday readings each week we are reproducing, with permission content from St Bueno's outreach.
if you would like to know more about them or access their guided prayer resources, 'prego', you can contact them via their website
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit ,reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen
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Pope Francis, Jubilee Prayer