General. This Sunday ushers in the glory which will appear over Jerusalem when Jesus is raised on the Cross and wins us life everlasting. It is known as Laetare (Joy) Sunday as it precisely occurs in the middle of the time of heart-heaviness for our sins caused by the fasting and penance done during Lent. We should indeed rejoice because the Easter Joy is fast approaching. We should also rejoice because we form part of our Mother Church which has borne us into the Way leading to the Heavenly Jerusalem through the sacrament of Baptism.

Second Book of Chronicles. The Jewish people have gone through alternate times of faithfulness and the lack of it towards God. Although God has sent them His prophets, the people rejected them at the time of their unfaithfulness and God sent His people into exile in Babylon for seventy years. At last, when His people repented thier sins, God ended their slavery and showing the same love He always had toward them, He recalled them to Jerusalem and there, they built Hum a temple where they could raise their voice in praise to Him.

Ephesians. St Paul is announcing the major news that we owe our new life to God who rose us from the death of sin in which we thrived. The light of Jesus Christ appeared in us when God, through His mercy and goodness, resurrected us with His Son and gave us salvation as His unique gift to us through the gift of faith.

St John. In his Gospel St John constantly refers to the contrast between light and darkness while inviting the faithful to live in the shining Light of Christ. God is fully generous in His love and wishes us to convert to Him by departing from sin and entering His Light. Whosoever likes darkness fears approaching the Light, but whsoever rejects sin and turns toward Christ, it shall be Christ Himself who shall pierce the darkness which surrounds him and raise him to Life everlasting.

Homilies Index Page - Liturgy of the Hours - Home