Before the beginning of
Laetare Sunday Mass, we sing this antiphon in reflection of Isaiah 66:10-11:
Laetare, Ierusalem , et
conventum facite, omnes qui diligitis eam; gaudete cum laetitia ,
qui in tristitia fuistis , ut exultetis , et satiemini ab uberibus
consolationis vestrae.
Laetatus sum in his,
quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. Gloria Patri.
Rejoice, O Jerusalem:
and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been
in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your
consolation.
I rejoiced at the things
that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the
Father.
Some may say, rejoice,
when covid-19 virus pandemic is sweeping the world? Are you crazy? The virus is
spreading like a wild wife and more people are falling sick and dying. How dare
can you rejoice amid of crisis?
It is true. We are in a
very troubled time. But it does not mean we should refrain from rejoicing. Even
amidst a crisis, Christians can nevertheless rejoice for a great object of our
hope. As we are already on the latter half of this year’s Lenten
journey, our hearts are looking forward to what is beyond the end horizon of
Lent, and it is Resurrection of the Lord. This anticipatory joy beyond Lent
becomes evident as we are on the 4th Sunday of Lent, out of 6
Lenten Sundays (6th Sunday – Palm (Passion) Sunday) , between
Ash Wednesday and Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), as we are nearing to end our
Lenten journey and to be greeted by the risen Lord.
We cannot let the current pandemic ruin our anticipatory joy beyond Lent and upon Resurrection, while we remain vigilant in protecting not only ourselves but also one another by keeping social distance and refraining from non-essential outing. We know that we will rise to the occasion through this difficult time of the pandemic, as long as we do not lose our hope. Yes, hope. And to keep our hope, we need to see beyond the horizon of this difficult time, so that we will not lose our sight in the darkness of fear. The below passage from Peter’s epistle echo the spirit of Laetare Sunday amidst the current covid-19 virus pandemic trial:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
Let us endure this difficult time with the living hope (1 Peter 1:3), arising with the risen Christ beyond the end horizon of this Lent! And, let us rejoice in our anticipation for Resurrection, which is fast-approaching, as we continue to refine our faith with the rest of Lenten trials.
We cannot let the current pandemic ruin our anticipatory joy beyond Lent and upon Resurrection, while we remain vigilant in protecting not only ourselves but also one another by keeping social distance and refraining from non-essential outing. We know that we will rise to the occasion through this difficult time of the pandemic, as long as we do not lose our hope. Yes, hope. And to keep our hope, we need to see beyond the horizon of this difficult time, so that we will not lose our sight in the darkness of fear. The below passage from Peter’s epistle echo the spirit of Laetare Sunday amidst the current covid-19 virus pandemic trial:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
Let us endure this difficult time with the living hope (1 Peter 1:3), arising with the risen Christ beyond the end horizon of this Lent! And, let us rejoice in our anticipation for Resurrection, which is fast-approaching, as we continue to refine our faith with the rest of Lenten trials.
Ultimately and
eschatologically, it is the victorious return of Christ, the King of the
Universe, that we rejoice in anticipation. And the Laetare Sunday antiphon
reflects this eschatological Christian hope, juxtaposing to Resurrection after
Lent.
Upon parousia, God’s promise in Isaiah 66 will be consummated as envisioned in Revelations 21. Before this, the Book of Revelation reminds that we must endure trials and tribulations as Satan will wage his war against us with ever greater scales, before our victory. Our commander in chief, Christ, assures salvation and victory as long as we remain with him. So, our steadfast faith in Christ is the bottom line of our sustenance, leading to our triumph. The way we handle ourselves amidst the current pandemic crisis for the remaining of this Lenten season also follow this strategy in the Book of Revelation.
Our steadfast faith will not let the current covid-19 virus threat darken our vision and the fear of the virus will not blind our eyes of faith. We are children of the light and, indeed, light of the world (Ephesians 5:8; cf Matthew 5:14), as Paul has declared. As long as we are with Christ, who is the light (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; 1 John 1:4) and life (John 1:4; cf John 6:35), we will conquer the darkness that the epidemic may bring.
A main theme for Laetare
Sunday is light, in juxtaposition to life! It is the light that enables us to see the truth. It is the
light to fight and conquer the darkness of sin and death! God created light first in
His creation of the heavens and the earth, spreading the light (Genesis 1:2).
And it is the light that prevails in the end (Revelation 21:23-26).
As we keep our faith in
Christ, the darkness of sins of the world, the darkness of the pandemic threat,
cannot conquer the light, which is also the life that Christ shares with us!
So, let us rejoice for Christ’s victory – his victory over death: Resurrection
and his victory over Satan at the end of time! We are destined to
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