“Rejoice, O Jerusalem!”
The fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, falls roughly at the midpoint of our season of diligent fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It’s the traditional day for temporarily relaxing our discipline and indulging in more joyous activity, as signified by the option for rose-colored vestments at Mass.
The readings for the day capture that spirit of joy. In the first reading, the long suffering Hebrews at last enter the Promised Land and for the first time eat of its crops. In the Gospel, the compassionate father twice demands joy in almost identical words:
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To the servants:
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To the older son:
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“Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead,
and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.” |
“But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead
and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.” |
(At the 10:00 Mass at Holy Trinity, we get different readings, because that Mass is set aside for the scrutinies, preparing the catechumens for baptism at the Easter Vigil.)
So today’s a good day to allow yourself a little extra joy, shared with family, friends, neighbors, or especially your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Please note that full participation in the Safe Environment program is required for parish volunteers. I am grateful for your help,
but keeping your documents updated is not optional. Please renew them in a timely fashion, in advance of their expiration, or you
must withdraw from your work or ministry until you are newly compliant. If you wish to begin the process for volunteering, or
have other questions, please call your parish office.
Holy Trinity Church features a choral concert this Sunday, March 31, at 4:00.
Laurie Lanz, the music director at St. Malachy, informs me that the organ at that church is not functioning. I am unwilling
to replace it now, before we know more about parish consolidation and the future of our shared mission. I have asked
the finance council at St. Malachy to explore temporary accommodations. (I am proceeding with some improvements at
Holy Trinity only with monies long ago earmarked for specific projects. By proceeding with these, I am complying with the
earmarks and not rendering judgments about whether those improvements will serve our new mission.)
—Fr. Dave
