Laetare Sunday! 4th Sunday of Lent
Sermon by Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – Fourth Sunday Of Lent – Year B
Sermon and Christian Act in The Word
Theme: “Rejoice! Salvation is Here”, Salvation is at Hand, Rejoice! Laetare Sunday!
Point of Departure: The fourth Sunday of Lent in the Roman Catholic Church is referred to as “Laetare Sunday”, which simply means a Sunday of rejoicing. What are we rejoicing? And why are we rejoicing? The answer is clear and straightforward: Salvation has come and it is here but the question is, do I recognise that salvation has come? Jesus Christ is the redeemer; the readings of today offer such a liberating aspect of salvation.
First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14–16, 19–23
Psalm: Psalm 137:1–6
Second Reading: Ephesians 2:4–10
Gospel: John 3:14–21
Sermon (Reflection): The Mother Church rightly places in the middle of Lent a celebration of the Sunday of rejoicing. Rejoicing is a natural response to what makes us happy. Today’s liturgy identifies and invites us to reflect on, several reasons why we as Christians should feel happy and rejoice. The first and main reason for our rejoicing is that God has offered us life that even death cannot destroy, we call this gift simply “salvation.” Jesus came into the world on a mission from the Father to make salvation possible for all who accept Him with faith. He offered us the possibility of eternal life regardless of nationality, race, gender, or social status. We can further say, that the reason we need to celebrate the rejoicing Sunday during the Lenten period is to understand that redemption is here at hand. There is no redemption and salvation without Jesus’ passion and death.
The second reading of the fourth Lenten Sunday points to the reality that salvation has been accomplished in the present time by Jesus Christ and that it can be already enjoyed by faith in anticipation of its fullness in the future (Cf. Ephesians 2:4–10). For St Paul, salvation is a gratuitous gift of God to all believers, regardless of their ethnic identity. My brothers and sisters, you will not be saved because you are white or black, South African or Malawian, coloured or blue, Xhosa or Zulu, No! Salvation is for everyone who does the will of the Father and lives a righteous life.
Anyone can partake in this salvation, provided they have faith in Jesus Christ, who has made this salvation possible through his death and resurrection. St Paul emphatically states this, saying, “by grace you have been saved through faith”. Paul’s message to the Ephesians is, therefore, a jubilant proclamation that salvation now becomes available to all, without any distinctions or discrimination, on the sole basis of faith in God’s Son. Paul emphasizes that this was God’s intention from the very beginning of time, and was fulfilled in and through Jesus. Those who believe in him can already celebrate and rejoice in their salvation, hence, Laetare Sunday: a Sunday of rejoicing, Salvation is here!
The Gospel reading of today reveals the depth of God’s saving love for humanity, revealed on the cross where Jesus was lifted up for the salvation of the world(Cf. John 3:14–21). The evangelist John presents the mission of the Son of God as an expression of God’s love, intent on the redemption of humanity and the offering of eternal life to believers. This view is enshrined in one of the most celebrated verses of John’s Gospel: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”. Today’s Gospel reading comes from an extensive, theological exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus (Cf. John 3:1-21). Nicodemus, a Jewish scholar and a Pharisee, was a perfect conversation partner for Jesus who intended to discuss God’s reasons for sending his Son, which is himself, into the world.
The concluding part of this conversation read today’s Gospel, reveals that God’s purpose for Jesus’ mission was the salvation of the world. John understands salvation as the gift of eternal life, a theme that recurs throughout the conversation. He also wanted to explain God’s reasons for, and the means through which, this gift of eternal life comes to the people. This is the reason to rejoice, we need to rejoice, the Son of Man is here to redeem us : “God so loved the world”. The gift of eternal life is offered because of God’s love for humanity. On Calvary, Jesus lifted on the cross – the tool of death – becomes the giver of eternal life. God’s salvation came through the cross. Jesus’ “lifting up” was a direct reference to the divine saving act. Again, the human response to this divine act is believing in Jesus, the saviour acting on behalf of the loving author of life – God. During this Lenten period, let us accept that Jesus Christ is the Saviour and because He has saved us then, we can rejoice in the Lord, salvation is at hand!
The rejoicing character is perfectly manifested and demonstrated by the fourth Sunday of Lent Scriptural readings. The first reading of today is appealing to the edict of Cyrus and declaring that God’s salvific purpose would not be undermined by human infidelity. Neither can his faithfulness be frustrated by human unfaithfulness (Cf. 2 Chronicles 36:14–16, 19–23).The point to the first reading comes from the Book of Chronicles which contains a sweeping account of the entire Israelite history, starting with Adam, the first human being, and ending with the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the Babylonian exile in 586 BC. The author of Chronicles concluded that these tragedies occurred because of the breaking of the covenant which left the nation exposed to its powerful enemies, with predictably disastrous effects. One might be tempted to see this history as a tale of disaster.
However, the book also makes it abundantly clear that, despite the nations’ infidelity, God did not abandon or disown his people permanently. On the contrary, for the Chronicler, the future is full of hope, because God bound himself to the people with faithful covenantal love. It is God’s commitment and not the nation’s failures, that will determine the people’s destiny. This is the very reason for us Christians to rejoice because in one way or another we have failed and we have lost hope but God does not abandon us. He has given us salvation through the crucified Jesus Christ. Humanity has been liberated.
Quite interesting to note in the first reading is the decree of Cyrus announcing “liberation” which concludes today’s first reading was good news to the exiled Israelites. Undoubtedly, they saw it as a sign and a proof of God’s salvific intentions and love, which remained unchanged. Thus, the Chronicler interprets Israel’s tragic history not as a tale of disaster, but rather a story of hope. Concluding his account with the edict of Cyrus, the author proclaims God’s enduring commitment to the project of salvation, and he declares God’s salvific purpose which the people’s unfaithfulness would not frustrate. During this Lenten period, what we need is HOPE and turn away from our evil ways as God is full of love and compassion. Salvation is here!
Christian Act in the Word of God “Rejoice! The Salvation is at Hand”
Salvation is at hand! Let us repent to receive the Easter glory with a clean heart. Dear Friends of God, God’s love is gratuitous and permanent. The Salvation is here! We have done nothing to deserve God’s grace, love, and salvation. This is a liberating thought because it means that we do not have to worry about doing something special or being perfect to receive these blessings. They are offered to us unconditionally. Even more so, they are always there! The first reading shows that despite the nation’s failures, God’s promise remained unchanged. Besides our human weaknesses, God has not taken away the salvation and redemption act. God loves us and we need to rejoice that He has offered salvation to us.
As it is a Laetare Sunday today, the cause for our rejoicing is the realisation that, even though like the Israelites we often fall short of living out our faith ideals, and are weighed down by our failures and sins, God’s pledge of salvation will never be withdrawn. Our destiny is full of hope, because our God is faithful, and determined to sustain us despite our imperfections and sinfulness. We have a Father who awaits us with extended arms, holding in them the gift of life in a gesture of offering to those who wish to reach for it, even if they happen to be the prodigal sons or daughters. Our duty today as we progress in this Lenten journey is to return to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness so that we attain in glory on Easter Sunday.
Of course, rejoicing in the middle of Lent is about reminding ourselves why we observe this season in the first place. Contemplating Christ on the cross as the source of eternal life, we have every reason to rejoice even as we journey through Lent, and, indeed, through life often full of “many problems and challenges”. Since we have a faithful God and Father we rejoice, because while these problems and challenges sting, they are not deadly! Because of God’ gift of salvation, delivered through Jesus’ cross, no evil power in this life can separate us from God’s love that leads to salvation. This is indeed a reason to rejoice!
Action: I (we) need to rejoice in the Lord this week because salvation is at hand.
Prayer: O God of love, You are the source of true happiness. As we celebrate “Laetare Sunday” which is the Sunday of Rejoicing, heal our wounds which cause unhappiness with jealousy and envy, increase our faith in Jesus Christ and make us worthy to rejoice in the fullness of our salvation. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.
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