Fr. Scott A. Haynes
"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her. That you may suck and be filled with the breasts of her consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the abundance of her glory." (Isaiah 66:10-11).
Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, serves as a moment of joyous respite in the midst of our Lenten penance. The very name “Laetare” comes from the first words of the Introit for this day: Laetarae Jerusalem (“Rejoice, O Jerusalem”). The Church, as a loving mother, calls her children to look ahead to the fulfillment of their Lenten journey, anticipating the joy of Easter. But what is this joy? It is not the fleeting happiness of the world but the deep, spiritual consolation that flows from the Heart of Christ, the font of every grace. Today’s readings guide us to a profound understanding of this rejoicing by considering the imagery of the Holy City, the freedom of the New Covenant, and the miraculous provision of Christ in the multiplication of the loaves.
Rejoicing in the Holy City: The Church as Our Mother
Isaiah 66:10-11 invites us to rejoice with Jerusalem, a city that is both historical and mystical. St. Augustine teaches us that Jerusalem, in the fullest sense, represents the Church, the heavenly city of God:
“For this Jerusalem which we now toil in, hoping for a better, is the Church. The earthly Jerusalem was a type; but the heavenly Jerusalem, which we long for, is our mother.” (Expositions on the Psalms, Ps. 86:2).
The passage describes Jerusalem as a mother who nourishes her children. The Church, as the Mystical Body of Christ, is the fulfillment of this motherly figure, nourishing her faithful with the sacraments and the word of God. St. Ambrose, commenting on the Church as mother, says:
“The Church, our mother, gives birth to us through the water of baptism, and nourishes us with the milk of the doctrine of faith.” (Exposition on Luke, 2.62).
During Lent, we often focus on our personal acts of penance, but Laetare Sunday reminds us that we are not alone—our Holy Mother, the Church, walks with us, sustaining us with divine grace.
The True Freedom of the Children of Promise
In the Epistle reading, Galatians 4:22-31, St. Paul contrasts the children of the bondwoman, Hagar, with the children of the freewoman, Sarah. He explains that Hagar represents the Old Covenant, the Law given at Sinai, which brings bondage, whereas Sarah represents the New Covenant, the freedom of the Gospel.
“But we, brethren, are children of promise, as Isaac was” (Galatians 4:28).
This distinction is crucial. The joy of Laetare Sunday is not mere relief from suffering, but the deeper joy of knowing we are free in Christ. St. John Chrysostom comments on this passage, saying:
“The Law was given to produce knowledge of sin; grace came to remit sin. The Law begot servants; grace makes sons.” (Homilies on Galatians, 4.24).
The Church, our mother, does not enslave us with burdens but feeds us with the richness of Christ’s love, calling us to live in the freedom of the children of God.
How does this apply to our Lenten journey? Often, we might feel overwhelmed by the struggle against sin, the weight of fasting, and the call to deeper prayer. Yet Laetare Sunday reminds us that these sacrifices are not ends in themselves; they lead us to freedom. True joy comes not from self-indulgence but from realizing that, through Christ, we are heirs of an eternal kingdom.
Christ, the Provider of the Bread of Life
The Gospel for Laetare Sunday is John 6:1-15, the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes. This passage is rich in Eucharistic significance, pointing toward Christ as the Bread of Life who satisfies our deepest hunger.
The setting is crucial:
“Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were diseased” (John 6:1-2).
The people are hungry—not just physically but spiritually. They follow Christ because He has shown them signs of healing. St. Augustine reflects on this hunger:
“You seek me, not because you have seen miracles, but because you have eaten of the loaves. Let them seek Christ, not for the sake of bodily refreshment, but for the eternal refreshment of the soul.” (Tractates on John, 25.10).
Jesus, seeing the crowd, tests His disciples:
“Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (John 6:5).
He invites them to recognize their insufficiency. St. Cyril of Alexandria comments:
“Christ asked this, not as if ignorant of what He would do, but wishing to prove His disciples and through them to teach us all that when human means fail, divine grace is sufficient.” (Commentary on John, Book 3).
The response of the disciples is pragmatic but limited: they see only what they lack. Yet Christ takes the meager offering—five loaves and two fishes—and multiplies them. This act foreshadows the Eucharist, where Christ takes humble elements of bread and wine and transforms them into His Body and Blood. St. John Chrysostom beautifully connects this miracle to the sacramental life of the Church:
“The five loaves signify the five books of Moses; the two fishes, the writings of the prophets and the Psalms. Christ takes these and blesses them, showing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.” (Homilies on John, 42.2).
The crowd eats “as much as they would” (John 6:11), a sign of the superabundance of God’s grace. This miraculous feeding is not just about satisfying bodily hunger—it is about pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in the Eucharist. St. Gregory the Great teaches:
“The miracle of the loaves and fishes is but a shadow of that great sacrament which nourishes the Church unto eternal life.” (Homilies on the Gospels, 14.3).
The True Joy of Laetare Sunday
What, then, is the joy of Laetare Sunday? It is the joy of being nourished by our Holy Mother, the Church, the joy of being freed from the bondage of sin, and the joy of receiving the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ Himself. Lent is a time of purification, but Laetare Sunday reminds us that our fasting is leading us to a feast. The psalmist declares,
“Taste and see that the Lord is sweet” (Psalm 33:9).
St. Bernard of Clairvaux exhorts us:
“Let us run to our Mother, the Church, and suck at the breasts of her consolation. Let us come to the Eucharistic table, where Christ, the Bread of Angels, is given to us. Let us rejoice, for our salvation is near.” (Sermon on the Canticle, 23.4).
As we continue our Lenten journey, may Laetare Sunday rekindle in us the joy of our redemption. May we look forward to the Paschal feast with renewed hope, knowing that Christ, who multiplied the loaves for the hungry, will also satisfy our souls with His boundless love. Amen.
Gregorian Introit: Laetare Jerusalem
Organ Improvisation: Laetare Jerusalem
Comments