The Joy of Laetare Sunday

03-15-2026Weekly ReflectionFr. Emmanuel Ogla, VC

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent and it is also called Laetare Sunday, a Sunday of joy in the middle of our Lenten journey. It is a Sunday when we take a break from Lent to see how far we have gone in the season of Lent and encourage ourselves that the journey to Easter is not too far anymore. In all three readings of today we are meant to understand that God sees differently than we do, and Jesus comes to open our eyes to see the things we cannot see.

In the first reading from the Book of 1 Samuel, the prophet Samuel is sent to choose a new king. When he sees Jesse’s strong and impressive sons, he assumes one of them must be God’s choice. But God corrects him: “Not as man sees but as God sees, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.” David, the youngest and least expected, is the one God chooses. How often do we judge by appearances? We often look at success, popularity, looks, social status, or impact, or past mistakes. But God looks at the heart.

In the second reading from the Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul says, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” That means our lives should reflect Christ. Light exposes what is hidden. Light guides. Light gives clarity. We are invited to possess the qualities of light and lead others aright. Lent is about stepping out of the darkness of sin, pride, resentment, selfishness, and choosing to live in the light.

The Gospel from John tells the powerful story of the man born blind. The disciples want to know whose fault it is. Jesus shifts the focus from blaming to healing. He restores sight physically and spiritually. He rubs mud on his eyes and asks him to go and wash in the Pool of Shiloam. How does Jesus expect the blind man to get to Shiloam when he has covered the blind man’s eyes with mud? The blind man, in faith, reaches out to those around him for help and direction to the Pool of Shiloam. In his blindness, he expresses faith and conviction that when he gets to the pool he will see again. What’s striking is this: the man who was blind begins to see clearly, not just with his eyes but with faith. Meanwhile, the Pharisees, who can physically see, remain spiritually blind. They refuse to recognize Jesus. The blind man’s journey mirrors our Lenten journey. At first, he simply knows the “man called Jesus” healed him. By the end, he professes faith, “I do believe, Lord.” Lent moves us from partial sight to deeper faith.

The central message tying these readings together is this: God sees the heart, calls us out of darkness, and opens our eyes to the truth. As we move closer to Easter, this Sunday encourages us not to lose heart. God is still working on us. He is shaping our hearts like David’s. He is calling us to live as children of light. He is touching our blindness and leading us to faith.

May He grant us all we need in this Season of Lent, that we may be stronger in faith at the end of this season.

Amen.

Fr. Emmanuel Ogla, VC