Fourth Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday or Rejoice
Sunday, which comes from Isaiah 66:10, “Rejoice O Jerusalem”
Fr.
Kyle’s homily
Why do we have reason to rejoice when we have a
virus that has shut down the world economy, is pushing us into isolation, and
is driving the whole world into a recession which will place millions of people
out of work?
In answer to this question let us look upon a few the
limits of this virus:
First, this virus has no power to keep us from God,
nor God from us.
Secondly, this virus has no power to keep us from
loving ourselves, our families, our friends, our communities, or even our
enemies.
Thirdly, this virus has no power to keep us from
reaching out and doing good for others such as attending to the needs of the
ill, the elderly, those quarantined, even if that means all we can do is pray
for one another at a distance. This virus has no power over us from doing good!
Lastly, in the last 100 years, no matter the crisis,
markets and jobs have always bounced back.
At the same time maybe God is using this virus is a
wake up call for all of us.
Have we been taking life for granted?
Have we grounded ourselves in our faith? Our faith
is to be so great that a mature faith lets us know that no matter how high up a
ladder we climb professionally or financially that we recognize that our faith and
our discipleship in Jesus Christ is to tower above all our personal successes.
On the other hand, while we are quickly learning
more about how social distancing, and better sanitize ourselves and our
surrounding helps to stop this virus, let us remember that our response to this
virus is a choice. Together we are
called to fight back against this virus by following government and church
protocols. Still more, let us use this virus as a “Timeout” to reflect about
the choices we are making in life and our relationship with God.
Let me explain.
When a young man or woman enters the religious life, they must discern
God’s will over many years. This is
necessary because it is hard for us to see God’s plan. Those first years in a
seminary or the religious life may be looked upon as a “Timeout”. Yes, the candidate for religious life spends much
time in prayer, in learning about the Church, about Christ, about themselves, about
their vocation, about the importance of living a moral life and how to overcome
sin. This “Timeout” then, helps them to see what they could not see before.
Some will determine that it is not God’s will to take vows to the religious life
and they will then become great lay leaders of the local church. Others are called to give their life fully
unto the Lord, forgoing marriage and embracing poverty and obedience unto their
superiors and the Church for the greater good of bringing stability to the
local church and to make Christ more visible in the world through their love
and dedication.
It’s
a “Timeout” that few people ever get to have as adults, but now is a time for
all of us to experience this gift, thanks to this virus. So, take a “Timeout” this week. Take break from all the social media and TV.
Consider choosing to be totally free from social media every other day. And when you do turn on the TV or tap onto
social media keep it short. Go to good resources to get current news and get
off it. In this way, then, make this
week and maybe the weeks ahead a “Timeout”.
Trust in God, assess how well you are living out your faith. When this crisis is over your faith and love
for Christ and the Church should then tower over the value of your profession,
your finances, and all other aspects of your life.
The gift of making use of a “Timeout” during this virus gives us the
ability to join the blind man that Jesus cured.
We will be able to see what others in the world can not. We will value and live by a higher standard
of awareness that frees us from living in fear, or from being hoarders. Yes, let us rejoice in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Let us be His servants and
evangelizers to a world that desperately needs the presence Jesus Christ to
heal, to save, to love, and to conquer all the powers of this world be it a
virus, or division, or sin, or death.
May our “Timeout” give us space to breathe in the Holy Spirit that we
may see as Jesus would have us see and to serve as Jesus would have us serve.
