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Sibling in Christ,,
What has Lent been teaching you this year?
When most people think about Lent, they think about repentance, self-examination, and the sober journey toward the cross. That makes sense. The forty days of Lent echo Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness, and the season ultimately leads us to the remembrance of our Lord’s suffering, crucifixion, and burial.
Yet right in the middle of this reflective season, the Church gives us a surprising gift: a Sunday of joy.
The Fourth Sunday in Lent is traditionally called Laetare, a Latin word meaning “Rejoice.” The name comes from the opening words of the historic Introit drawn from Isaiah: “Rejoice with Jerusalem.” Even in a season marked by repentance, the Church pauses to remind us that the Christian life is never defined by sorrow alone. Our journey through Lent is always moving toward the joy of Easter.
The readings for this day illustrate that joy beautifully. In Exodus, the people of Israel find themselves wandering through the wilderness, hungry and uncertain about the future. Yet God provides bread from heaven—manna—enough for each day. Through this daily gift, God teaches the people to trust in divine provision even when the path ahead is unclear.
The Gospel from John echoes that same theme. A large crowd follows Jesus into a remote place, and when they become hungry, Jesus feeds them with five loaves and two fish. What begins as scarcity becomes abundance. Everyone eats and is satisfied, and there are even baskets of leftovers.
Both stories remind us that the God who sustained Israel in the wilderness continues to provide for God’s people through Christ. In the middle of Lent—when the season can begin to feel heavy—Laetare Sunday reminds us that God’s grace is never in short supply. Even in the wilderness, God provides daily bread.
Historically, this Sunday served as a kind of preview of Easter. The Church would slightly relax its Lenten fasting, allowing a moment of celebration as a reminder of the resurrection that is drawing near. In some places it was also known as Mothering Sunday, inspired by Isaiah’s image of Jerusalem as a nurturing mother and by the custom of families visiting their mothers on this day.
But at its heart, Laetare points us toward an even deeper feast. The feeding of the crowd anticipates the meal Christ will soon give to his disciples during Holy Week—the gift of his own body and blood. And that meal, in turn, points forward to the great banquet of God’s kingdom, when Christ will gather his people to celebrate the eternal feast of life everlasting.
So in the midst of Lent, the Church invites us to lift our eyes and rejoice. Our repentance is real, and the road to the cross is solemn. But the wilderness is not the end of the story.
Christ is leading us somewhere. And where he leads is always toward life, abundance, and joy.
In God's Grace,
Pastor Will
P.S. Has there been a moment in this Lenten season when you unexpectedly felt gratitude or joy? Reply to this e-mail, I’d love to hear from you.
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