God So Loved the World
Lent's fourth Sunday
Announcements for March 13, 2021:
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There are no changes to our Mass and Confession schedule this week.
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Dear Saints,
Happy Laetare Sunday! You might remember this Sunday as the one that prompts the thought, "Wow! Father Daniel looks really good in pink."
No? Okay. :)
This is the Sunday in Lent that we start to see the light at the end of the penitential tunnel. We've made it over the hump, having hit Lent's halfway point this week, and that's reason enough to rejoice (what the word laetare means).
The theme runs a good bit deeper than that, of course. But what sense can we make of the command to rejoice, especially given the darkness and despair of our own day?
Our Gospel passage this Sunday gives more than a hint as to how we might answer that question. In it, we read:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
Our cause for rejoicing is that God wants us to share in his life (eternal life) here and now. In sending his own Son to pioneer the way of life, he has opened the path for us to walk his way.
Wherever we find ourselves right now, no matter what challenges we have to face or obstacles we have to overcome, the way of self-giving love is possible for us. Put another way, the fully flourishing human life - a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, and self-control - is on offer if we but trust and follow Jesus in all things.
We're well on our way this Lent. Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we are going beyond ourselves and growing into the life of self-gift. It's a joy to be journeying with you, my friends, every step of the way.
I love you dearly, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
PS Check out this information sheet from RIP Medical Debt and join our campaign today.
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Image of Jesus' Face
The Shroud of Turin