Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
15 March 2026
First Reading: 1 Samuel 16b, 6-7, 10-13a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3q, 3b-4, 5, 6
Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-4
Gospel: John 9:1-41
Reflection
By: Anton Ocampo
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is also referred to as Laetare Sunday, with the Latin word “Laetare” meaning “Joy.” If the Advent season has its Third Sunday being designated as its own Sunday of Joy, with the said Sunday being referred to as Gaudete Sunday (“Gaudete” is also a Latin word that means “Joy”), the Lenten season also has its own Sunday of Joy, namely Laetare Sunday. Both Sundays mark the half-way mark of their respective seasons. Another unique aspect of both these Sundays, namely Gaudete in Advent and Laetare in Lent, is the use of the color rose. Rose is only used on these Sundays specifically.
In this year’s Fourth Sunday of Lent, which is designated by the Church as the season of Lent’s Sunday of Joy, the Church invites us to reflect on this gift that comes from the Light of the world. The Light of the world is the One we should humbly exalt all the days of our life. He is the source of our joy. Our hearts and minds are filled with joy because the true Light of the world chose to shine on us. Even though we are not worthy because of our sinful nature, He willingly let His light radiate our path so that we can walk under His grace, love, mercy, and compassion.
Featured in the First Reading is the narrative of the anointing of David as King of Israel. God has sent His prophet Samuel to anoint the shepherd David, the youngest son of Jesse, who He has chosen to succeed Saul who reigned over His chosen nation Israel as its king during that time. In doing so, He gives His nation Israel an assurance of His faithfulness to them. By continuing to give a king to Israel, God has given them joy.
God is introduced in the Responsorial Psalm as the shepherd of His chosen people. Keep in mind, He was not forced to shepherd His people. Rather, He freely chose to assume the role of shepherd. By doing so, He gives joy to His chosen people because they have the assurance that they will be safe and sound. They will be walking under the true light, the Light of the world, who is full of mercy, compassion, and love.
The Second Reading focuses on how Christ, as the true Light of the world, illuminates the path of His followers. Followers of Christ no longer walk in darkness. Rather, they walk in the true light who is none other than Him. He chose to do this freely because of His great mercy, compassion, and love. As His followers who devoutly praise, worship, and exalt Him through our spoken words and deeds, we are filled with true joy.
In the Gospel, Jesus gives sight to a man born blind. As a result of this, the man who was born blind was filled with joy upon receiving the gift of sight from the true Light of the world. The desire of this man, who was blind from the moment he was born, to see the beauty of the world he was in came true because of the great mercy, compassion, and love of the true Light of the world who is none other than Jesus of Nazareth, the promised Messiah.
With great joy in our hearts and minds, let us always exalt by our words and actions the true Light of the world who is none other than Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. By choosing to become the true Light of the world, He has given us the gift of joy and gladness that comes from only Him. This serves as proof of His great mercy, compassion, and love.
Prayer
Filled with the joy that You continuously give us each moment of our lives, we humbly exalt, praise, and worship You, O Lord Jesus Christ. We thank You for choosing to be our Light that dispels the darkness in our midst. In doing so, You showed us Your great mercy, compassion, and love. May we always listen to You, the source of our joy and hope. Amen.
