4th Sunday of Lent 10/3/2024 Jn 3, 14-21
Although we are encouraged throughout Lent to seek God’s mercy for your sins and failings and ask for mercy for the sins of others, and rightly so, Laetare Sunday reminds us of the true purpose of Lent. Lent offers us an opportunity to rebuild our lives. The light of Jesus is offered to us and, in so far as we welcome his light into our lives, Jesus will show us the how best to do this.
John Foley, SJ wrote the following poem to encourage us to open ourselves to the light of Christ.
Once there was a city built in the sunlight.Warmth and laughter abounded.Memories of day would remain every nightuntil the sun could return.
Fear one morning said light is too bright.Too much truth can be seen.How can we seem what we say we areif light the intruder is here?
So, walls went up and a ban on all windowsand nothing of day could remain.The city said, you have left us, O sun.In the darkness we have gone blind.
But the sun outside still shed its light,and its warmth and its laughter and love.It lightened the wallsand gave warmth to their chill,while within, the soul bored a hole.
Into it poured a single beam,a sunlight of laughter and care.Softly, silently, almost like spring,love opened and blossomed and grew.
Listen to the light.
Listen to God this Lent.
Let love open and blossom and grow.
It is no coincidence that we celebrate our mothers on this Sunday of light and rejoicing because they have been a constant light, opening us to God’s love, laughter and his presence. If we reflect carefully, we will come to see God’s presence and God’s light in their smile and their happiness as well as in their suffering and pain. We are made in the image of God and, for most of us, our mothers have been the best models of what this means.
Mom is the proof God exists.
A Mother's love is somethingthat no one can explain,it is made of deep devotionand of sacrifice and pain,it is endless and unselfishand enduring come what mayfor nothing can destroy itor take that love away . . .It is patient and forgivingwhen all others are forsaking,and it never fails or falterseven though the heart is breaking . . .It believes beyond believingwhen the world around condemns,And it glows with all the beautyof the rarest, brightest gems . . .It is far beyond defining,it defies all explanation,and it still remains a secretlike the mysteries of creation . . .A many splendored miracleman cannot understandand another wondrous evidenceof God's tender, guiding hand.
by Fr Thomas O'BRIEN a.a
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