Homily for Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent)

Today is Laetare Sunday, which means "rejoice." We are halfway through Lent, and the Church invites us to find joy.

Joy is a feeling we get when we have something good, like winning a sports championship or getting something we want. However, this joy does not last. It fades when we lose, wear out, or tire of that good thing.

Christian joy is different. It comes from what truly satisfies our hearts. This joy does not change; it can never wear out or go away. The source of this joy is God's loving attention. God always thinks about each of us. He knows and loves us completely. This kind of love is demonstrated today in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Two details of the parable highlight this message. The younger son wastes his inheritance but eventually returns home. St. Luke tells us, "While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him… He ran to his son." It's as if the father scanned the horizon every day, waiting and hoping for his lost son to return. As soon as he sees him, he rushes to him.

God always hopes that we will come to Him. He watches over us not to punish us when we "mess up" but to embrace us and shower us with His grace. His unconditional love is the source of Christian joy.

The older son learns about the celebration and refuses to join the party. What does the father do? St. Luke says, "His father came out and pleaded with him…" God takes the first step in our lives. He reaches out to us.

Again, God knows, loves, and pays attention to us. Remembering this and living according to it is the key to Christian joy.

Today, God invites us to renew our experience of Christian joy. Many of us find that life's troubles can hide our joy. If this is true for you, consider refreshing your friendship with Christ, who is the source of joy.

A simple way to do this is to talk about the blessings God has given you. Sharing good things God has done helps us focus on Him. If we make it a point to discuss God daily—with friends, family, or colleagues—it becomes easier to remember His goodness and love, which are the source of our joy. We can also inspire others to recall God's blessings.

In today's Mass, let us ask God to increase our faith so we can shine brightly, no matter the challenges in life. Let us also ask Him to give courage to anyone who has forgotten His goodness and is afraid to return home.