Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A (Laetare Sunday) – March 22, 2020

Readings: 1 Sam 16:1b,6-7,10-13a; Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a.3b-4.5.6(R.1);

 Eph. 5:8-14 & Gospel Jn. 9:1-14 Or Jn. 9:1.6-9.13-17.34-38.

Theme: God Chooses the Weak to Shame the Strong!

Sunday Synopsis

Laetare (rejoice) Sunday is considered as a day of relaxation from the normal rigors of Lent as Easter is insight. The first reading (1 Sam 16:1b,6-7,10-13a) recounts how God shows preference for the youngest son of Jesse, David amidst his older siblings. In the second reading (Eph. 5:8-14) St. Paul urges the faithful to be to be sons and daughters of light through living in complete goodness. The gospel (Jn. 9:1-14) tells how Jesus turned the darkness of lack of sight suffered by the blind man, Bartemaeus into a life-changing experience. Our liturgy urges us to rejoice as the Easter Season approaches.

Introduction

Friends in Christ, today is Laetare or Rejoice Sunday. The fourth Sunday of Lent is referred to as Laetare Sunday because the Latin words of the Introit “Laetare Jerusalem” (Rejoice, O Jerusalem) from Isaiah 66:10 appears in the entrance antiphon at Mass in the Western Christian Liturgical Calendar. As we continue our annual Lenten Observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the Church bids us rejoice because our redemption is near. Laetare Sunday is considered as a day of relaxation from the normal rigors of Lent as Easter is insight. Traditionally, weddings which are usually discouraged during the period of Lent are performed on Laetare Sunday. To further authenticate “Rejoice Sunday,” servants were released from their Master’s Service to visit their mothers which is why in some Churches, Mothering Sunday is held on this day.

Background and Summary of the Readings 

The first reading (1 Sam 16:1b,6-7,10-13a) recounts how God shows preference for the youngest son of Jesse, David amidst his older siblings. The favour God shows to David is also demonstrated in the lives of the Israelites who despite being a small nation enjoyed divine blessings to the dismay of Gentile nations like Egypt and Babylon (Deut 7:7-8). In the end, we are told that the boy of fresh complexion with fine eyes and pleasant bearing was anointed with the horn of oil where he stood with his brothers and the spirit of God rested upon him from that day forward.

In the second reading (Eph. 5:8-14), St. Paul urges the faithful to be to be sons and daughters of light through living in complete goodness, right living and truth. He encourages believers to discover what is right and keep at it even as they avoid the futile works of darkness. He also invites them to expose evil and stop doing things in secret as these are things that people are often ashamed of. He notes that anything that is exposed by light is illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light. Paul surmised thus: “Wake up from your sleep, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  

The gospel (Jn. 9:1-14) tells how Jesus turned the darkness of lack of sight suffered by the blind man, Bartemaeus into a life-changing experience. His disciples had insinuated that the man was born blind because he or his parents had sinned. Jesus rebuked them and indicated that he is the light of the world. he then went ahead to make paste with his spittle to put into the man’s eyes with the order: “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” The text disclosed that the man obeyed and came back with his sight restored. It also revealed how the man born-blind, first referred to Jesus as “the man” (Vs11) then, “Prophet” (Vs17) and “man of God” (Vs33) before he finally called Him “Lord” (Vs38). Apparently, the blind man’s faith grew from the ordinary to the extraordinary because he knew what he wanted and he went for it believing that he would get it - he also knew he was a no-body but Jesus was going to make him whole again.

Pastoral Lessons

1. God Chooses the Weak to Shame the Strong: God’s preference for the youngest son of Jesse, David amidst his older siblings demonstrates that God has a way of making small things great and the fact that sometimes he chooses the weak to shame the strong.

2. God Looks at the Heart: We must realize that “God does not see as human beings see; humans look at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam.16:7).

3. God Loves Children of Light: In the second reading, Paul challenges us to wake up from our sleep; rise from the dead and let Christ shine on us for God loves children of light.