Dear Parishioners of the Blessed Sacrament and Visitors,

Today marks the fourth Sunday of Lent, traditionally known as Laetare Sunday, or the Sunday of Rejoicing. Rightly so, in the opening antiphon of the liturgy of this Sunday, the church proclaims, "Rejoice, Jerusalem, and be joyful, all who are in mourning."

We may wonder, "Why should we rejoice during Lent?" One reason is the approach of Easter, which gives us a glimpse of the joy from our encounter with the Risen Christ. Therefore, Laetare Sunday is a joyful pause in the middle of Lent, reminding Christians of the hope and joy that the coming Easter celebration brings.

The theme that dominates today's readings is light - the light that illuminates our sinful darkness. In the second reading, the apostle Paul reminds us of what we must do to overcome darkness. He emphasizes that we should denounce the deeds of darknessthose shameful actions that people commit while hiding in the shadows, fearing that the light will reveal their wrongdoings. We should never try to justify or excuse such actions. They are contrary to our purpose and nature, and if they were made known, they would bring us shame. During this time of Lent, we are called to denounce these deeds, as doing so helps us live as children of the light.

In today's Gospel, Jesus heals a man who was born blind, demonstrating that He is the light of the world. This man had only known darkness since birth, but his miraculous healing allows him to see the light. However, this miracle sparked intense debate because it took place on the Sabbath, which the Pharisees believed was a violation of their religious law. As a result, both Jesus and the healed man were cast out-Jesus for breaking the law and the blind man for being labeled a sinner since birth.

Jesus tells the healed man that He has come into the world for judgment. He has come to distinguish between those who are blind but open to healing from their ignorance and unrighteousness, and those who refuse to be healed because they mistakenly believe they can see and consider themselves righteous. The Pharisees, by stubbornly refusing to acknowledge who Jesus truly is, demonstrate a form of blindness.

The temptation to see ourselves as knowledgeable or without guilt is a common struggle. It is a spiritual blindness that can lead to a refusal to recognize our own sinfulness, resulting in a hardened heart. Ultimately, this can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss (see CCC 1864)—the unpardonable sin, where one chooses to reject the salvation offered by God and clings to hatred and prejudice. This willful denial of the light is perilous.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us allow ourselves to be healed by Jesus, who desires to grant us God's light and true understanding of divine realities. Let us confess our blindness, shortsightedness, and sinfulness, particularly the "great transgression" mentioned in Scripture (see Psalm 19:13), which is pride.

On that note, I would like to once again invite you to our communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation here in the church on Thursday, March 26, starting at 6:00 PM. Please do not miss this opportunity.

In God's service and yours,

Fr. Thomas Kagumisa

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