A number of years ago I wrote this to the people in RCIA. I thought I would share it with you today. I have slightly edited it to take out anything specific to RCIA.
Before we get to that here’s a review from Fr. Mike Schmitz of the movie “Cabrini” that you have probably heard about. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QxTbeR7pZA
The fourth Sunday of Lent is known as Laetare Sunday. It is called this because the Entrance Antiphon for Mass on that day begins (in English) Rejoice, Jerusalem and all who love her… In Latin, the original text for all Masses, it begins Laetare!…You will see rose colored vestments worn on this day as a sign of joy in anticipation of the celebration of the resurrection of Our Lord, coming in just three weeks.
The readings for this Sunday are all about sin, and God’s mercy. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031024-YearB.cfm
The first reading, from the end of 2 Chronicles, talks about the conquer of the Jewish people, the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C., the deportation to Babylon, and finally, the restoration of the people to Jerusalem when King Cyrus of Persia defeats the Babylonians. The two books known as 1 and 2 Chronicles are considered historical texts, although they are not considered impartial and fully accurate in the way we think of history today. That said, they provide a glimpse into the history of Israel. The main point of what’s referred to as the exile to Babylon is that God is allowing the people to be physically removed from their home in the same way they were already spiritually removed. Over the years God had sent messengers, prophets, to warn the people to turn back to him and away from their sins. At some point they so damaged their relationship with God that he removed his protection from them. This is when the Babylonians, under King Nebuchadnezzar, sacked Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and carted off the best and brightest of Judah’s society to Babylon.
By the way, the Temple being referenced here is the original Temple, also known as Solomon’s Temple. King Solomon, son of the greatest King of the Old Testament, David, built this “house” for God and Jews believed it was the dwelling place of God on earth. I can’t overstate the devastating effect it had on the Jews to have that Temple destroyed. There is a second Temple, known as the Temple of Zerubbabel, that was built on the same site as the first around 520-530 B.C. after the people returned from exile in Babylon. Then, Herod repaired and enlarged that second temple in the late first century B.C. When you see pictures of the wailing wall or Western wall it is the remains of that renovation of the second Temple.
Note from the first reading that, although the exiled people are not perfect God eventually shows His mercy and allows them to come home to Jerusalem and start their lives over with Him. Think about how we sin. God is merciful toward us and allows us to be reconciled with Him though we are not yet perfect.
I don’t normally say much about the Psalm but I’ll just point out the line at the beginning “By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.” Zion is Jerusalem and Babylon is present day Iraq. The streams they are referring to are likely the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. That line about weeping by the rivers of Babylon is a famous line from Jewish history.
In the second reading, from the letter to the Ephesians, we hear a similar story about Sin and God’s mercy. Paul makes the point that we cannot earn God’s love. We are saved by grace alone. Sometimes Protestants cite this chapter as evidence that we are saved by grace, as opposed to good works. Catholics agree that we are saved by grace alone. We cannot earn our salvation. We also believe that having been loved in this way, and hearing Jesus’ command to love and serve one another, and particularly the admonition in Mt 25 that we will be judged by how we treat the “least of these”, we should extend the love we have received to others. That love is the source of good works, not some desire to earn God’s love. We know God’s love is a gift.
Finally, in the Gospel reading we hear that most famous of all Bible verses, Jn 3:16. God loved us so much that he sent His only Son to pay our debt for sins and to give us the opportunity to live with Him forever.
There is one reference in the Gospel reading that you might not get. At the very beginning there is a sentence about Moses lifting up a serpent. You can read more about that in Numbers 21: 4-9. In the interest of space I won’t go into it here but it is also a story of sin and God’s mercy. The reference in the Gospel to being “lifted up” refers to Jesus being put on the cross and then lifted up into place to die.
John Martens from America Magazine had an excellent commentary on this Sunday’s readings a few years ago, if you have the time to read it. http://americamagazine.org/content/the-word/weakness-sin
Here is Bishop Barron’s online homily for this Sunday: https://www.wordonfire.org/videos/sermons/face-your-fears/
Finally, please remember those who are preparing to come into the Church when you pray.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading.
I hope you have a great week.
Peace, Bob
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