Laetare Sunday

by Fr. Michael D. Accinni Reinhardt, MA, Mdiv, MS  |  03/15/2026  |  Pastoral Corner

This Fourth Sunday of Lent brings us to the silver- lining, as we return to the liturgical color rose for the simplicity of the joy that is in our midst. It is through the paschal mystery in sharing in the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ that we know that joy is truly present in our midst, and as a result we rejoice in it. Rejoice in the Lord always again I say Rejoice! Who among us could not manage a sprinkle of joy, because we know we are turning the corner toward the most joyful and glorious event for which Jesus conquers sin and death, by overcoming the grave. We now can see what is ahead of us on the horizon, the sun is rising and upon us is the dawning of a new day!

This point in time is a reprieve from our Lenten focus of sacrifice, discipline, abstinence, and fasting as we take a glance ahead and can honestly see the forest for the trees and the resonating hope instore fur humanity. It’s no coincidence that we hear about the blind man in the gospel today, and rejoice with him as he discovers that he who was blind now can see. After all of his public scrutiny, all that mattered is that he could see. We know that physical blindness would have its challenges in life, making us resourceful to shift our abilities onto the other senses, developing them in more keen ways. How better yet, that Jesus performed this miracle to bear witness to the glory of God for all to see. The blind man’s testament of faith is his heartfelt gratitude to accept something he could not even explain, but to rejoice in God’s presence and goodness. If anything we learn from the blind man is to give praise and thanksgiving to God, and that faith requires persistence and overcoming of obstacles. Spiritual blindness would be the worse kind of blindness, because it can obstruct us from receiving gifts from the heart of Christ. Faith, understanding, wisdom, charity, and forgiveness all come from the heart of God. Let us remain focused upon the goodness of the Lord by avoiding the distractions of the world that keep us far from the heart of God, but move us in persistence and faith, to the remedies of healing, wholeness, and faithfulness. God calls us out of blindness in order for us to see. He calls us out of darkness into His wonderful light so that we may turn away from sin that obstructs us, we must obey him as did the blind man obey Jesus who told him to wash in the pool of Siloam trusting the Lord along the way.

Abide in Joy,

Fr. Michael