Fourth Sunday in Lent- March 10, 2024
Theme: “Go and Proclaim: The Saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ!”
First Reading: Numbers 21: 4-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 107: 1-2;17 &19;20-21
Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 1-9
Gospel Reading: John 3: 14-21
Homily by Fr. Romie- Jun Peñalosa
GO AND PROCLAIM: THE SAVING GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(A RECAPITULATION BASED ON THE HOMILY OF +FR. ROMIE JUN PEÑALOSA)
The fourth Sunday of Lent is called “Laetare Sunday” taken from Latin verse “Laetare, Jerusalem” (“Rejoice, O Jerusalem”.)
Lent may be focused on the sufferings and sacrifices of Jesus, but as God’s people we also need to see beyond it. And this is what Laetare Sunday teaches us, that in spite of all the hardships and sacrifices of Jesus, we can look to the future and hope for eternal life and salvation.
John 3:16 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible and many of us memorize it. It is part of today’s gospel, but Father Jun wants us to understand better the passages before and after. Here, we can take two (2) important lessons: First, God wants us to face our fears. Salvation begins when we look up to God; when we confront our fears. In the time of Moses, people suffered difficulties while on their journey to the promise land and through it they learned to obey and trust God. God asked Moses to lift up the bronze serpent so that those who were bitten by snakes could look at it and be healed. Just like that image of the serpent, Jesus must also be lifted up in our lives. Jesus on the cross is symbolizes God’s perfect love for us. And this perfect love drives out all fears.
Secondly, God doesn’t condemn us no matter what. When we were still sinners, Christ already died for us. He already loved us then. When we don’t see Him as a loving God, condemnation sinks in. So when we sin, our instinct is to run away. We punish ourselves thinking that we deserve to take the burden. But the truth is, no matter how bad we are, God will never hate us, nor condemn us.
We become the playground of the enemy when we murmur and grumble in life. When we continue to look away and not align our life to the cross where Jesus was crucified, we will continue to live in darkness. God extended His hand to help us, but understand that we also need to do our part. Because our part is as important as His part in order to fulfill His plans and purposes in our life.
In this season of Lent, Father Jun encourages us to face our fears and to continually have check-ups of our spiritual life. If we think we are healed, then confirm. There is no need to run away, no need to punish ourselves nor try to repay Him; for there is no price that can match the love of God for us. God loves us not because we are good but because He is a loving God. It’s not about who we are but about who He is. Embrace that love!
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