Rejoicing Amid Lent: Exploring Laetare Sunday

Laetare Sunday: Rejoicing Midway Through Lent—Light, Mercy, and Preparing for Holy Week

In this episode of Mary’s Message, Cristy Murray and Father Perry Kenaston reflect on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, explaining its meaning, history, and the shift from Lenten penance toward Easter joy, symbolized by rose vestments and the entrance antiphon “Rejoice, Jerusalem.” They discuss themes from the Lenten readings—light versus darkness, healing, conversion, and God’s mercy—highlighting St. Paul’s call to live as “children of light” and the Gospel healing of the man born blind as a sign of Christ as the light of the world and a model of baptism. Father Perry encourages confession, prayer, and Eucharist as ways to open to God’s grace, offers practical counsel for dealing with self-righteousness by loving others as Jesus does, and urges listeners to prepare spiritually for Holy Week while praying for peace in the world.

00:00 Welcome and Lenten Series
00:50 Opening Prayer
01:49 What Is Laetare Sunday
04:57 Readings and Rose Vestments
06:24 Light vs Darkness with St Paul
08:35 Gospel Healing of the Blind Man
10:34 Confession and Let Your Light Shine
14:03 Dealing with Self Righteousness
15:43 Holy Week and Easter Prep
19:25 Good Friday Holy Water Explained
20:20 Final Encouragement and Spelling
24:16 Closing Prayer and Farewell

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Transcript

Restream recording Mar 15, 2026 • 01:39:38 AM 0:04

Welcome to Mary's Message, leading Hearts to Jesus Today, the podcast where we listen to the voice of the blessed mother and allow her to lead us ever closer to her son in our modern world. I'm Cristy Murray, along with Father Perry Kenaston and each week we explore stories of faith, conversations with Catholic voices and practical spiritual tools to help you encounter Christ more deeply in a world longing for peace and clarity, Mary continues to speak to her children with love, hope, and a mother's gentle wisdom. Thank you for joining us as we open our hearts to Mary's message and lead her and let her lead us into the loving embrace of Jesus. We are still in our Lenin series, and today is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Father Perry, would you like to start us in prayer? Uh, yes. Christy sure would do that. In the name of the father and son, excuse me, got a frog in my throat. Heavenly Father, as we reached the middle part of this LNT season, fill our hearts with hope and joy. Even in this season of penance, remind us that your mercy is greater than our sins, and that the joy of the resurrection is drawn near through the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary. Help us to remain faithful in prayer, generosity, and, and sacrifice and sincere in repentance. Renew our strength to the Lord so that we may continue on that journey with deeper faith and trust in you. So, as Christie said, Ari Sunday. Father, what does all that mean? I, I have some information here for you that I think you would be in some of the history and everything. The before Sunday of Lent is also known as Ari Sunday. It is liturgical fees to the Roman Catholic Church that marks a brief but significant shift in tone from the penitential season. Toward the joy of Easter, the name not comes from the first word of the intro. Anon not Jerusalem. Rejoice Jerusalem. History and liturgical BA background. This Sunday is part of the Lenten cycle, a 40 day period of fasting prayer in penance leading to Easter. While Len is generally marked by purple investments and a sober con, Ari Sunday is in news as woes colored investments and more joyfully symbolizing the hope and the promise of the resurrection. The tra, the change in color and liturgical is a deliberate gesture towards to remain the faithful that even in the season of repentance, God's mercy and light of Christ shines. La Sunday is rooted in the early church's understanding of Lent as a time of conversion and renewal. It invites us the faithful. To reflect on Christ's passion and the mystery of redemption, renew commitments to prayer fast, imp penance. Embrace God's mercy and the information power of repentance. The readings from each year of the liturgical cycle focuses on themes of light healing and new life. In year. A Samuel and Samuel, and in John, healing of the Blind Man. In year B two, Jesus has lifted on the cross highlighted God's saving love and the promise. And c, the prayer ball of the prodigal son rule in the liturgical year. Liturgically Sunday is the second Sunday of the three scrutinies, and because of the Atory Sunday. The Gospel of the Blind Man Healing is seen as a prototype of baptism. Summary history. iCal Sunday emerges as a way to balance the penitential tone of Lent with the hope of Easter. It's liturgical changes, scripture themes and pastoral purpose all serve. To renew faith, celebrate God's mercy and prepare the faithful of the joy. It remains a distinctive moment in the church's history and liturgical year. Often both spiritual and. A joyful way. As I said, the fourth Sunday of Lent is also called LA Sunday. It is a day of joy. In the middle of the season of Lent, the readings remind us that God gives us light hope healing year Jesus, he owes the blind man, and like I said in Year B, he hears God's son not to be judged. All three years point to a God's kindness and the new life we receive through Jesus the fourth Sunday of Lent helps us to fa to focus and be glad even during Lent. The first reading in the book of Samuel, the second reading in St. Paul, and of course in the gospel in John, the color of the mass vestment war. Today is rose. A reminder for us to rejoice for we are halfway through the Lenon journey and our salvation is nearer than when we began. The traditional type title of of this Sunday is LA Sunday. Taken from the first words of the entrance in English means rejoice. Last Sunday, the focus of the liturgy was clearly on the idea of living water. Jesus' source of that water and we drive from his well. We will never thirst. This Sunday, in addition to rejoicing, the focus is on the contrast between darkness and light like water. It is an imaginary use to describe the invisible manum, but nothing else. Today's go, uh, St. Paul's message in his letter from the prison of Ephesus, puts us on the track regarding light and darkness when he speaks of one of the fundamental motives of Christian morality. Meaning the radical change that takes place in the lives of Christians at the time of their conversion. St. Paul does not explain it in detail or precisely the metaphors of darkness and light, but the context is which they occur, make their meaning clear. Darkness is that realm where the evil and the sin can flourish. Light in contrast is the realm where good works are prompted and can flourish. Where God's way take precedence over everything else. It is a power with which ultimately casts our darkness, overcomes the grip of evil and allows Jesus to dominate. Followers of Christ are meant to be children of light. It is appealing image. As we know the importance of light in our life, children of the light must express in their lives that same light by which they live. They must always live and deepen the profound change that has taken place by turning from sin and to, and turning to God, walking in goodness. Justice and truth is how St. Paul describes one of the. Areas where it takes place. When God's light is in us, Christians are of the light belong to the light. It is a lifelong work and God's light constantly intensified with within us, makes us in a, a turn a source of light from the light around the world. In Ephesus, in the gospel passages is a sign for this Sunday in Lent. The theme of light continues, the cure of the man. Born blind is clearly intended to illustrate Jesus' claim to be the light of the world. Those who refuse to embrace the light Christ has to offer are walking in darkness. And as the story goes I'm a true miracle has taken place. A man is able to see who previously could not. Those around Jesus, see what has occurred and while unable to deny the fact of the miracle, refuse to accept the significance of the clear of the event. This is especially so in the case of the Pharisees, their stand is clear. Jesus cured a, A man on the Sabbath. Therefore the action cannot be from God, nor has a prophet performed the cure. Yet their popular verdict is that indeed Jesus is sent from God and it is a prophet. How easy for us to be more like the opponents than advocates of Christ free to be, to put God in our lives. Is that what we're doing? Were we putting God in our lives? This is a true season of length priorities. In reality though, we cannot walk, afford to walk darkness through this life, like someone who has a driver's license but has no clue about the laws of the land regarding driving or the operating of a car, if it is necessary to out the eyes of the body in order to see color again. S. So also, is it necessary for a clear mind and a more informed conscience to have God active in our work, in our lives? That happens when we leave. Leave ourselves open to the forms by God's word and the grace of second, especially con, especially confession. Huh? So if you haven't had a chance to go confession, I would invite you to. To do that. And in some parishes, some parishes, they have special times for that. So we are people who seek God. Sometimes we may feel overcome by darkness. Our brokenness, our tend tendency to stray and to put other things our life. May the biblical readings for this Sunday en lent enlighten our minds and show us the way we need to walk. May the bread and wine that becomes the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Celebrate by the means of seeing God in the present time may common. And private prayer help us to see the path before us. Not with fear, but with confidence in that Christ is within all of us at the beginning. As I said in the beginning of today's gospel, Jesus explains, I am the light of the world. We pray today that we might allow the light of Christ to grow within us and glow from us. For it is our o Union Christ that would dispel the darkness of the world. And as I was reflecting on these a song comes to mind, and perhaps you all know it, this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Let it shine in my neighbor's home. I'm gonna let it shine. Let the shine, let it shine. Let it shine. So, how well are we bringing the light of Christ to others? Isn't that the message of the mountain season to reconvert, to convert, you know, convert over to being the light of Christ? So for Sunday of lent. So it's a happy we get like that little happy moment in Lent. Yep. And that brings us, uh, you know, that brings us right straight to what we're preparing ourselves for. That's one reason why in, in, in Christmas time, we have a particular time that we were the other residents. And today if the priest isn't colorblind, who put on a big vestments today? Praise God. So this Sunday is when was he doing a lot of healing to, 'cause he didn't really stop healing, right? Like he came out of the desert and Yeah. No, you know, he, he healed all the time. But this is a particular thing where he, uh, all those buzzards, those Pharisees, they really were, uh. Doing a trick to him again trying to, anyway. Mm-hmm. Was trying to, always trying to entrap him. Yeah. You know, they're supposed to be the smart ones and they, and they actually turned out to be the dumb ones, but, well, 'cause they believe in themselves so much. They think they're, they're self righteous and. Boy do I I, I agree with you there. And we can't go into what the stuff is or anything else like that, but there's, so how, you know, you just opened up the whole box there to a certain extent. Uh, father, what about the self-righteousness of Jesus time? How do we deal with the people of what that we know that are self s there's an easy question that. What does the, what does Jesus do? Jesus loves 'em where they're at. So some of the people out there that are self-righteous, if they are hard, how to get, how to get along with just turn 'em over to Jesus and the Jesus, help me to love this individual the way you love them because I am having difficulty. And then that way you can be the light of Christ to them. See how I turn that in? Yes. Gers of college. Oh boy. I had too much fun on this. A lot of fun. Yeah. But then you have to edit it. I do. Hopefully you don't edit it too much by, that's alright. See, I'm in your hands. Oh. So then why, why the pink instead of purple? Pink is pink Or Rose is Rejoice. Okay. Yeah, because we're happy now for a week. Well, yeah. Two weeks because it pumps sign is in two weeks. Okay. And then we walk into it, then we walk into the. A passion week. Mm-hmm. The priest along, and this is where I, this is where I've stressed for 25 years. You walk on Holy Thursday, I stress to the people before we repose the soul, the sacrament, stop for a second, realize what we're doing, prepare for, and that's prior to that Sunday. Realize what we're gonna be doing. We're gonna be walking through Holy Week, so prepare yourselves for holy week. You know the story. Mm-hmm. I mean, Catholic, you know the story for sure. But, and then you after Holy Thursday, and it's Good Friday. And then we have Easter vigil. And Easter vigil this year is gonna be a big one. Not only a lot of communicants and everything else like that, but because of the change in desires of the bishops, they're going to be able to confirm a lot of people this year. So that's going, I think there's, if I understood correctly, there's either three or four masses at Guadalupe. Depending on. When, what times come out and they haven't bought out the times yet. At least I won't know. So yeah, we, I get an email, um, I had to sign up for times and Yeah. Yeah. But it is, uh, well it's, that's one reason Good Friday, well, holy Thursday. 'cause we get the missiles maybe next week. Sarah's probably got 'em now. Mm-hmm. But steal a copy, so to speak. And you get a, you get a prelude of, uh, what's it's all about. Mm-hmm. Holy Thursday, you know? Exactly. And you get together with a liturgical committee and say, Hey, you need to build up a garden, a Gethsemane. And then when you do it right, then what you do then before you tear it down again, well, you be, as you set it up and everything else, you take a picture of it and you keep it until next year. Of course. Good Friday is Good. Friday, yeah. In and, uh, lays on the floor, or as it's changed a bit for us older folks, you can make a, you can make a, a nice bow. You don't have to worry about getting on your knees or trying to get back up. And then on Easter vigil of course, is Easter vigil. That's when a. That's when the church looks like Los Angeles on a good day. Ah, you use the incense big time. Mm-hmm. And then, uh, of course Easter Sunday is Easter Sunday. Mm-hmm. Everybody's invited out to talk Christmas EI mean, Easter dinner and everything else was some party time. Yeah. See, I know you're gonna edit this, so I can ask them. I'm sorry, I'm just me, Christy. I am and that's what you want. So, but Monday, that's whenever, that's when all the priests take a day off. I presume there's gonna be Monday mass at the seas. Other than that, that's about it. So, okay, so Thursday we have masks, right? Because Thursday we, that's when we do the last supper in the washing of the feet. Yeah, that'll be there. Six or seven. Leo hasn't put it out yet. Okay. It'll be in this week's bolted probably. Okay. But like generally, so then Friday I noticed at church that there's no holy water and we don't have communion. Nope. Yeah. I don't have any of that stuff until It's Easter. Easter vigil. Well, they take the holy water out already. Not yet. Yeah. 'cause I know the cathedral did. I'm just asking for, like, anyone listening, like what's the significance of not having holy water on Friday? On Good Friday. Friday because he is died. Okay. That's as, as I get you don't get any more new holy water. Until it's blessed again. Okay. And that's down the road, so to speak. You have to put the candle in the water and make it blessed. As long as you don't burn anything down. Who blow that. Do you have any, like, anything special or anything, any words of wisdom? I guess for our listeners? Um. No, actually what, what I would invite them to do is if they can do it, I don't know if it's possible or not, but uh, just remember the prayer that was said at the very beginning. Helpers, rejoice and Mary is right there. She, she's gonna guide us to Jesus. And then of course, boy, then of course there's that little soul, right? This little light of mine. Yes. I'm gonna let it shine. Oh boy. If that isn't a heart warmer, just get out a box of Kleenex when you do that, man. Mm Oh, father, I got a lot of work to do, but you enjoy it. I know you do. Maybe we should just go live, so then you can like have some filter. I'll just have signs. Stop. Go. You're, I didn't see any nasty words now on, no, not this time. I'm not telling anybody to do it any wrong, but I, you know, again, I just come back to that little thing. We are my friends and. Retire Sunday. Yeah, you turn, we're turning a fence here. This is a joy time. And hopefully the liturgical committee and the singers this weekend will have, this is what, oh, five 30 masses already begun. Mm-hmm. So it's six o'clock. So hopefully the, the Missing Ministry has will reflect Ari Sunday with Joyful Songs. Okay. Can you spell that? Leary. LE Yeah, let me, uh, let me get that here. L-A-E-T-A-R-E Sunday. Okay. Just for every any of our listeners that are curious about how it's spelled. Yeah. That means the forced Sunday of lit, that means rose colored vestments. Okay, well, enjoy my friends. Enjoy the, the preparation time here. Prepare yourself for your mind and body and soul for, uh, holy week. Coming up in about a week and a half, two weeks. Yeah, we're getting close And pray for the pastoral. You, you know that he'll need the prayer to get through the holy week because that's a, you know, he, hopefully he is done everything right now. If the missiles are in, I know what myself, when I had parishes and everything else, I'd get one missile in and I'd, I'd know it, and then I'd start today, LA, la Sunday. I'd start reading the Holy Thursday. Memorize that. And go into the church, one, go into the church and you practice what you're supposed to do. Lady, they don't know anyway. They can't, you know, and then there's another thing here too, guys. There's one time during the holy week that the priests get to have a great big, long, long long gospel. And they have all those names that we have to learn how to pronounce all over again. And sometimes we do and sometimes we say 'em and nobody knows anything anyways so to speak, you know? They don't know how to except the LECs. They have to know 'em too. Yeah. Oh, father, I don't have any more questions for this week. Do you wanna end our session with a prayer? Why don't we just say Hail Mary, not only Hail Mary for coming season, but for peace in the world, huh? It's getting more and more serious over there and every other place too. In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Amen. Heavenly Father, we come before you now and we ask you to bless each one of us in a very special way and in, as it says in the opening prayer and everything else. Through the intersection of Blessed Mother. Hey, O Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blesses your fruit of Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for our sinners now the of our death. Amen. And the Lord be with you. You Almighty God bless us, the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Okay. Thank you for joining us today on Mary's message, leading Hearts to Jesus today. If this conversation brought you closer to Jesus, I invite you to subscribe. Leave us a five star review and share this episode with someone who needs a little hope. And every time you do you help Mary's message, reach more hearts. For links and resources and ways to stay connected, be sure to check out the show notes below. And if you'd like to go deeper, we now have a newsletter for you. So head to our subscription landing page in the show notes to join our community and receive reflections, resources, and marry an inspiration delivered straight to your inbox. And to ask Father, father Perry some questions or spiritual direction. Until next time, may Mary's message echo in your heart and lead you ever closer to the loving embrace of Christ. I.