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.

Joshua. The picture the Church presents us with today is that of God’s people who have entered and settled in the Promised Land. Now that they had established themselves therein and the Promise had been accomplished, they did not forget to celebrate the Pasch, even if in the old traditional way, in thanksgiving for all that which God had done with them.

Second Epistle to the Coronthians. The message of the meaning of Baptism rings through this reading. We have been made God’s friends through Christ, and so new creatures who have abandoned sin and its doings. St Paul bids us to carry along this good tidings to humanity. Befriend God because him who had no sin, was made sin for our sake that we might be shown that we have been accepted by God. This is the justice of the New Pact as compared to the ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth’ concept and the Pharisaism (Gospel) of the Old Testament.

St Luke. The Parable of the Prodigal Son recalls the Father’s love who is always awaiting His dearly beloved children to return to Him when they find themselves in sin. He loves just as much those who keep faithful to him, yet like in other similar parables, the message is that Heaven rejoices when sinners repent. This is basically the Easter message that Baptism has saved us from sin and given us a new life in the Father’s house with His Son Jesus.

Homilies Index Page - Liturgy of the Hours - Home