Laetare – Rejoice!

Today marks the 4^th Sunday of Lent. Traditionally this is called “Laetare Sunday” and Laetare is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” This Sunday serves as a reminder that in the midst of the penitential season of Lent, we are called to rejoice.

I think this is an important thing to remember, particularly in times like these with the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is easy to focus only on what we are not experiencing and what we are losing in this season. God calls us to remember that we are also receiving great things in Lent. We receive God’s grace and a life that is better oriented towards Jesus. This week we will explore the path of discipleship. It’s a challenging road, but it leads to God and is marked by grace.

I pray you will join me this Sunday in rejoicing! My prayer is that we can live in the way that Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:13 where tells us that his journey is marked by, “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.” The road of grace has a destination worth rejoicing about.

Daily Questions

• What grace have you experienced so far during the COVID-19 outbreak?
• How can you take time to rejoice today?